Gaining weight for no reason: 8 common causes

Those stubborn extra pounds! You’ve noticed you’re putting on weight, but you can’t quite explain why. Is it really possible to gain weight for no apparent reason? Or is there always a cause — and if so, what might it be?

Why am I gaining weight?

Let’s set the record straight right away: you never gain weight for no reason. There is always a cause, whether metabolic or lifestyle-related. And sometimes, small everyday habits are to blame — especially when they add up. Here are the most common reasons people gain weight without really noticing.

Reason n^o1: regular alcohol consumption

You don’t drink often, but you never say no to a glass. A little aperitif here, a birthday celebration there. By the end of the year, it all adds up. Because yes, alcohol does cause weight gain:

• It is highly caloric — one gram of ethanol contains 7 kcal, which is more than a gram of table sugar.
• The sugar in alcohol provides no nutritional value to the body — these are empty calories. It is difficult to metabolise, places a heavy burden on the liver, and is stored directly as visceral fat.
• Alcohol disrupts the feeling of fullness and encourages you to eat more than you need.
• It affects food choices and increases cravings for fatty, salty foods.

So if you feel like you’re gaining weight, your alcohol consumption may well be the reason. You know what to do…

Reason n^o2: a sedentary lifestyle

Your idea of a perfect day is staying cosy at home. You enjoy sport — on TV. You take the car for even the shortest trips. In short: you don’t move enough. A sedentary lifestyle not only leads to excess weight, but also to poor health — think diabetes, high cholesterol, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even cancer. Either way, a lack of physical activity is almost certainly behind your extra pounds. To break the cycle, it’s essential to bring more movement into your daily life:

• Leave the car at home and get around on foot or by bike. It’s the simplest way to get moving and burn calories. Even short trips make a difference…
• Embrace fun, active pursuits: playing with your dog, gardening, dancing with friends, going for a scooter ride, strolling around town on foot…
• Find a sport you genuinely enjoy — and you really are spoilt for choice, with so many activities out there…
• Make it enjoyable: if exercise feels like a chore, you won’t stick with it.

Reason n^o3: poor food choices

Nutrition advice tends to go in one ear and out the other. You’re convinced your diet is perfectly healthy, and that it couldn’t possibly be the reason you’re gaining weight. Yet what seems balanced to you may not actually be. A truly balanced, varied diet should provide the macro- and micronutrients your body needs to function at its best. According to ANSES and the WHO, it should include:

• Carbohydrates at around 55%
• Fats at around 30–35%
• Proteins at around 10–15%
• The vitamins and minerals your body needs
• Enough water (1.5 to 2 litres per day)
• Plenty of fibre

It’s worth noting that fats should ideally be mono- and polyunsaturated, carbohydrates complex and low-GI, and proteins lean. In addition, salt, sugar and saturated fats should be kept to a minimum, while fresh produce should take centre stage. It may be time to take a close look at your overall diet and identify where the unnecessary calories are creeping in. A fan of ready meals? Unable to resist a croissant at breakfast? A committed cheese lover who has some at every meal? Spread on toast is your favourite snack ? There’s no mystery here: weight gain always has a reason, and yours may simply be a tendency to make poor food choices.

Reason n^o4: the ready meal reflex

This one goes hand in hand with the previous point: you hate cooking. Or by the time evening comes, the last thing you want to do is stand at the stove. So you automatically reach into the freezer, pull out a ready meal, heat it up in the microwave in a matter of minutes, and eat it in front of the TV. Or you’ve fallen into the habit of ordering delivery — just a tap away on your phone. The main problem with these quick fixes: you have no control over what you’re eating. Not the portion sizes, not the preparation, not the quality of the ingredients. That convenient laziness is almost certainly behind your weight gain. Slim people enjoy food just as much as you do — they just make the effort to cook. To avoid putting on weight, it’s worth rolling up your sleeves and getting into the kitchen. It doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming: preparing delicious meals can actually be wonderfully simple. Browse recipes online or invest in one of our cooking guides, such as our Guide: 50 Super Easy Slimming Recipes or our Guide: 50 Slimming Recipes in Under 20 Minutes.

Reason n^o5: poor sleep

Does sleep affect weight? Absolutely! Because at night, your body is far from idle:

• It burns calories to keep vital functions running.
• It regulates many hormones involved in weight management — including ghrelin, the hunger hormone, and leptin, the satiety hormone.
• It metabolises dietary carbohydrates in preparation for the next day’s physical and mental activity.

If you sleep too little, or poorly, this whole delicate system goes off balance. You store more, your hunger and fullness cues are disrupted… and you gain weight. To prevent this weight gain, it’s important to take care of your sleep. Go to bed early and at consistent times (even at weekends), keep your bedroom cool and well-ventilated, and ensure darkness and quiet throughout the night… For restful, restorative sleep — and fewer pounds on the scale.

Reason n^o6: snacking

Your weakness is raiding the fridge or the cupboard every couple of hours. Yet snacking is one of the biggest enemies of a healthy figure. Eating constantly throughout the day puts strain on your digestive organs and keeps your body producing insulin non-stop. Not to mention the calories that accumulate to a surprising total by the end of the day. Try to understand why you snack: genuine hunger or simply the desire to eat? If it’s the former, your meals may not be balanced enough — in which case, it’s worth looking at how to eat better. If it’s the latter, it may be worth digging a little deeper to understand why you eat (boredom, stress, sadness, frustration, anger). Emotional eating doesn’t have to be inevitable — you can seek support from a nutritionist, a doctor, or a psychologist.

Reason n^o7: stress

Stress is also a common reason for weight gain. It can trigger snacking, as mentioned above, but it can also cause an overproduction of cortisol. What’s that? It’s a hormone naturally produced by the body to help manage short-term stressful situations (waking up, rapid memorisation, emergencies). But in cases of chronic stress, cortisol is produced continuously, which can have an impact on weight. It stimulates insulin production, which in turn promotes fat storage. To avoid weight gain, it’s important to manage stress: avoiding anxiety-inducing situations, practising relaxation, meditation, staying organised… There are countless ways to break the cycle.

Reason n^o8: medication

Certain medications — such as corticosteroids, a poorly suited contraceptive pill, HRT, beta-blockers, or some antidepressants — can contribute to weight gain. These chemical compounds have a direct impact on hormonal balance, which in turn influences the body’s tendency to store fat. The best course of action is to discuss your concerns with your prescribing doctor, so they can adjust your treatment and help minimise any associated weight gain.

Is there a helping hand to be found?

As you’ll have gathered, weight gain always has a reason. Once you identify it and take corrective action, you have every chance of losing weight. And if you’re looking for a little extra support to help you get results faster, we have just the thing!

• Our Slimming Cosmetics Pack, featuring our best-selling body care products (cryo and night slimming treatments, the Dry Slimming Oil and the Thermoactive Slimming Cream), lets you build a complete body routine for visible inch loss all over: thighs, waist, stomach and buttocks.
• Our Weight Loss Programme, a food supplement routine (Slimming Capsules and Slimming Drainer) combined with coaching, supports gradual, all-over slimming over the long term.