One of the factors of good health is maintaining a stable and correct weight. Sometimes, losing weight is difficult because there is an underlying disease or a cause that causes us to accumulate fat. Below are some of these conditions that should be known.
Diseases that make weight gain or hinder weight loss
There are several diseases, some of them related to the endocrine sphere, which can cause a significant or sudden weight gain. With the correct diagnosis and treatment, it is possible to control them and maintain an adequate body mass index (BMI).
1. Polycystic ovarian syndrome
This disorder is frequent, as it affects one in 10 women. There is a hormonal imbalance with increased androgen levels in blood, as well as altered cycles in the secretion of estrogen and progesterone. The ovaries may present an increase in size due to the accumulation of fluid-filled cysts that contain ovules, which can not be released. Among the symptoms are obesity, sterility, acne, irregular menstrual cycles and excess body hair. The exact cause of this disease is unknown, although there is a hereditary tendency.
2. Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland, in the form of a butterfly and located in the neck, secretes several hormones that control the metabolism. These hormones are T3 or triiodothyronine and T4 or thyroxine. When its secretion is insufficient, metabolism slows down and fat deposits throughout the body tend to increase. In addition, edema, intolerance to the cold, swelling of the face, chronic fatigue, low sweating and constipation may occur. The causes of hypothyroidism can be the presence of thyroid nodules or so-called Hashimoto thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that destroys the thyroid.
3. Renal insufficiency
The kidneys have the function of purifying toxins from the blood and eliminate them with urine, as well as drain excess fluid from the body. In cases in which there is a failure in renal function, there is an accumulation of fluid that can cause a sudden increase in weight.
4. Insulin resistance
When food is ingested, blood glucose levels increase and the pancreas responds by secreting insulin. This hormone allows the entry of glucose into the cells. When there is resistance to insulin, this mechanism of entry fails and there is a feeling of hunger, which is compensated by an increase in food intake, which leads to overweight and obesity.
In parallel, the pancreas produces more insulin and its high concentration in blood, called hyperinsulinism, generates an accelerated accumulation of fat in the adipocytes and reduces the mobilization of fat deposits. Insulin resistance is usually a precondition to the onset of diabetes mellitus.
5. Cushing's syndrome
The cause of this disease is the increase in the secretion of the hormone called cortisol by the adrenal gland. This increase may be due to excessive stimulation by the pituitary gland or may be a consequence of the administration of certain medications. The consistently high levels of this hormone in blood produce various disorders, including the accumulation of fat in the upper part of the body, which generates a hump, protruding abdomen and round, reddened face.
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