5 Harmful Health Conditions That Cause Weight Gain
Today I want to talk about health conditions that cause weight gain. It seems to be something we don’t talk about enough. Whenever I read any post online about body liberation and fat acceptance, people come out of the woodwork to bash fat people. We’re lazy; we’re greedy, and we don’t understand calories in, calories out. This is utter crap, as the majority of fat people have been on so many diets they are a virtual encyclopaedia of calories contained in food and how many minutes of exercise are required to burn them off.
People also try to say fat-shaming doesn’t exist and that the mean comments are designed to help us. This is a lie. People love to feel superior to fat people and feel like they can legitimately bully them because of their supposed “flaws”. I’ll say it again; EVERYONE deserves respect, and other people’s bodies, beliefs, sexuality and gender are none of your goddamned business so just zip it, ‘kay?
However, the point of this post is to highlight, yet again, that there are medical conditions and medications that make it almost impossible to lose weight, regardless of how much you eat and exercise. Let’s take a look at them now.
Lipoedema
Lipoedema is a build-up of fat, normally in the buttocks and legs, but it can affect the arms too. It is more common in women, but men do suffer from it too. Lipoedema can be very painful and also causes emotional symptoms such as anxiety and depression due to pain and how it affects the shape of a sufferer’s body.
The key thing to note about Lipoedema is that no amount of diet or exercise will correct it. A person with this condition could literally starve themselves to death, and their fat build-up would remain the same.
It is also a condition that is not understood, even by doctors. According to Lipoedema UK:
“78% of women with Lipoedema who took part in Lipoedema UK Big Survey 2014 developed symptoms between the ages of 18-25, but only 7% received a diagnosis at that time. Most took decades to realise they had Lipoedema as they were constantly dismissed by the medical profession and told that the excess fat ‘was their own fault'”
Our own fault? Hmmm, that sounds familiar! Of all the health conditions that cause weight gain this one must be awful because it is so misunderstood. Diagnosis is a hug uphill struggle and there aren’t many treatment options available.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
“Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is one of the more common health conditions that cause weight gain. It is caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones. The hormonal imbalance creates problems in the ovaries. The ovaries make the egg that is released each month as part of a healthy menstrual cycle. With PCOS, the egg may not develop as it should, or it may not be released during ovulation as it should be”
Among a host of other problems, PCOS has been linked to insulin resistance and weight gain. Women with PCOS find they gain weight very easily and find it exceptionally difficult to lose it. Not impossible, just very difficult.
PCOS causes insulin resistance. Insulin resistance puts your body into fat storage mode and also increases your appetite. PCOS has also been linked with a decrease in the appetite regulation hormones ghrelin and leptin, meaning people with PCOS find it harder to know when they’re full.
Lymphoedema
“Lymphoedema is a long-term (chronic) condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues. It can affect any part of the body but usually develops in the arms or legs.
It develops when the lymphatic system does not work properly. The lymphatic system is a network of channels and glands throughout the body that helps fight infection and remove excess fluid.”
There are two types of lymphoedema, primary and secondary. Primary lymphoedema is caused by faulty genes that impair the development of the lymphatic system in the body. Secondary lymphoedema is caused by damage to the lymphatic system, often due to cancer treatment.
As with lipoedema, no amount of calorie restriction or exercise will get rid of the swelling of the body. Compression garments, massage and gentle physiotherapy, can help a little, but it’s not guaranteed.
Arthritis
Arthritis can be agonisingly painful and make carrying out basic self-care extremely difficult. While arthritis itself may not cause weight gain, it can make a person’s usual level of activity impossible. This can cause someone to gain weight. A person with arthritis may also be prescribed courses of steroids (see below) that can lead to weight gain.
If you’d like an example of the effect arthritis can have on a person’s physique, check out actress Kathleen Turner. In an interview with Closer she explains the huge impact rheumatoid arthritis has had on her, physically and mentally.
Steroids
Ok, technically steroids are not health conditions that cause weight gain. However, corticosteroids are used to treat a wide range of health conditions, from ulcerative colitis to rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, within 2 to three months of treatment, 40-60% of people will experience significant changes in their physical appearance. Some of this is due to weight gain and some due to fat being redistributed in the body. Common changes include an enlarged face, a hump on the neck and increased fat deposits in the waist area.
This redistribution means people taking steroids may look like they’ve gained a lot more weight than they have. Diet and exercise will not change these deposits, and because users of corticosteroids report an increase in appetite, it is also difficult to lose weight.
Come on Claire, the majority of fat people don’t have these conditions!
You’re right; they don’t. The majority of fat people do not have health conditions that cause weight gain. However, unless the person is a close friend or family member, you don’t know, do you? So by giving them disgusted looks or offering unsolicited diet advice, you may be making their lives worse. These people struggle with pain, changes in their bodies, and possible mental health issues every day. Why take even a tiny risk that you’ll make it worse?
Secondly, even if it’s not for this reason, what gives you the right to make a person feel bad about themselves or that you’re judging them? Another person’s body is none of your business! Yes, I include your spouse, partner, parent, sibling and best friend in that. Unless they specifically ask you for advice, then don’t say anything. If they do ask you, remember you love this person and BE KIND. Studies have shown repeatedly that shaming people about their weight results in them getting fatter, not thinner.
Finally, please remember that we are all different. You may find keto was a life changer for you, but it may not work for someone else. Weight is a complicated and multifaceted issue, and there is no “one size fits all”.
