Weight gain

Weight gain

Template:Search infobox Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Weight gain is an increase in body weight. It is generally caused by the intake of excess calories, little exercise, or may be caused by a medical condition. One exception is bodybuilding, in which muscle is gained by workout routines. With a large differential diagnosis, weight gain is a prevalent complaint among adult patients.

It may be intentional or unintentional, sometimes for muscle building, or for health reasons, i.e. increasing body fat percentage to a healthy amount. Intentional reasons may include gaining weight to get to a healthy weight, bodybuilding, and recovery for eating disorders like Anorexia Nervousa.

See also obesity for a full discussion.

Symptoms

• A noticibly larger, rounder stomach.
• Increase in body fat percentage.
• Increase in muscle mass.
• Increase in body hydration levels.

Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Weight gain

Causes include;

Acute or chronic Liver Disease

• Decreased hepatic protein production causes a decrease in intravascular oncotic pressure
• Leads to edema, ascites etc.

Congestive Heart Failure
Cushing's Syndrome

• Cortisol levels may be elevated due to

• Adrenocorticotropic hormones secreting adrenal adenoma
• Adrenal hyperplasia
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone secreting ectopic tumor

Diabetes Mellitus
Hyperplasia

• Due to Hyperthyroidism

Hypothalamic lesions
Growth hormone deficiency
Medication side effects

• Oral contraceptives
• Corticosteroids
• Antidepressants

Premenstrual syndrome
Pregnancy
Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

• Hirsutism
• Irregular menstrual cycle
• Insulin resistance
• Obesity

Laboratory Findings

• fasting glucose
• urinealysis
• U&E
• Random cortisol

Primary Prevention

• Low calorie diet and excercise

Acknowledgements

The content on this page was first contributed by Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]

List of contributors:

---