"WHY am I gaining weight if it's NOT excess calories?!"

Overweight and obesity is such a challenging topic to discuss.

About 2 in 3 adults (70.2 percent) in the U.S. are considered to be overweight or obese.

We all hear that weight gain is the result of eating more calories than we can burn. However, despite exercise and dieting, many people are still struggling with excess weight that impacts their health (higher risk of cardiovascular events, cancer, diabetes, and death) and quality of life.

Furthermore, many people have been gaining weight as they age without changes to their diet or lifestyle.

New studies are now showing that weight gain is NOT just a factor of the amount of calories consumed and/or exercise.

In some cases, excess consumption of calories might lead to a reduction in weight.

For example, studies have shown an inverse association between higher nut consumption (highest caloric count per gram) and lower body weight. In other words, higher consumption of nuts was found to be beneficial in maintaining a healthier weight.

If it’s not excess calories - what causes weight gain?

There are several factors that cause excess weight, including:

• Consumption of processed foods - Processed foods contain refined grain, sugar, and other additives. These foods lack fiber and nutrients that are important for healthy metabolic function.

• Low thyroid function - The thyroid is our metabolic ‘engine’ and its hormones are important for stimulating metabolism. Low thyroid hormones (such as T3 or T4) or increased thyroid antibodies might lead to weight gain. Thyroid and endocrine system function are determined by lifestyle factors such as diet, toxin load, and sleep quality.

• High levels of cortisol secretion - Studies show that cortisol levels are abnormal in people with abdominal obesity. An increase in cortisol levels will increase glucose production in the liver and may contribute to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance.

• Environmental factors - Studies report an association between exposure or accumulation of environmental chemicals and weight gain. For example, a study published in 2016 reported that exposure to the chemical benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) increased the production of fat. Other studies reported that BPA and heavy metals accumulation interfere with mitochondrial function and induce glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. (Read more about the important role mitochondria play in your health here.)

Addressing these factors could lead to significant improvement in your daily function, health, and quality of life. I have witnessed and helped people lose a significant amount of bodyweight WITHOUT "diets", simply by focusing on improving their health.

Unfortunately, most healthcare providers are not aware of these factors and people continue to struggle.

I personally dealt with many chronic health issues that stemmed from hormonal imbalances, environmental and emotional toxins, and poor habits & unhealthy lifestyle. Through my own research and discoveries, as well as courses and certifications, I have learned how to identify root causes AND help people prioritize lifestyle changes that make the biggest positive impacts on their mental and physical health.

If you are interested in learning more about the factors that contribute to weight gain, metabolic, inflammatory, and chronic conditions, I invite you to learn more-

I was recently on "The Good Shit Show" podcast where we discussed toxins, hormonal imbalance, and metabolic disfunction / weight gain in depth, click here to listen.

I've researched and written many more articles on the topics of hormones and the role they play in maintaining a healthy weight and in our overall mental and physical health, click here (use the search button & enter the word "hormone") to read.

For more information about how this could be impacting you and if you are ready to learn to heal your body and get healthy for good, click here to schedule a short call.