by Ann E. Smith

Created on: May 05, 2009

People fear gaining weight. Many obsess about it. They go to extremes to avoid it. Yet, it clearly happens quite frequently.

Weight gain often starts when kids go off to college, and it can continue throughout adulthood. But what causes this increase in body weight? By understanding the causes, you can gain some insight as to how to avoid this situation.

Below are some of the main causes of weight gain.

1) People eat more calories than they burn.

When you eat food, you are taking in energy. This energy is measured in units called calories. You need calories for the functioning of your body, even when you sleep.

The problem, though, is that many people eat more food than they need, taking in more calories than they burn. When that happens, the excess calories are stored in the body and show up as weight gain.

People often are not well educated about how much food they need to maintain their weight. They can get help by seeing a nutritionist, consulting with their doctor or exploring online resources.

2) Weight gain occurs when you are too sedentary.

Sometimes people may not be eating all that much and still gain weight. In this case, they are not getting enough exercise.

They are instead perhaps spending too much time at their computers or in their offices. It is wise to work out at least five times a week.

3) Weight gain is often a result of depression.

Emotional eating is a common problem. People turn to food for comfort to help them deal with stress, loneliness, sadness and other emotions.

Those who are clinically depressed often overeat certain types of foods. Sugar, for example, can temporarily lift moods.

When someone is in a state of depression, then it is frequent for them to gain weight. The same can be said whenever someone is going through a particularly hard time in life, such as a divorce or the loss of a loved one.

4) Some medications cause weight gain as a side effect.

It is a well-known fact that many medications have side effects. Sometimes, a side effect is weight gain. If you are on such a medication, then you may want to consult with your doctor to see how you can manage the situation.

5) Food addiction is a real disease.

Similar to alcoholism, some people are addicted to food. They obsess about what they are going to eat, and will go to great lengths to get certain foods. Oftentimes, their food addiction is a secret.

They may binge regularly, but not in front of friends or family. This food addiction can certainly lead to all kinds of problems, including weight gain.

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