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What Could Cause Excessive Weight Gain, And Shortness Of Breath Despite Healthy Lifestyle?
Question: Hi,
I am a 48-year old female. In the last year, I have gained 35 pounds without changing my exercise habits (I train with a professional trainer twice a week) and my eating habits. My abdomen is enlarged, and I have some shortness of breath also. What should I do? I seem to continue to gain weight, despite a reasonable diet and good exercise habits.
I am a 48-year old female. In the last year, I have gained 35 pounds without changing my exercise habits (I train with a professional trainer twice a week) and my eating habits. My abdomen is enlarged, and I have some shortness of breath also. What should I do? I seem to continue to gain weight, despite a reasonable diet and good exercise habits.
Brief Answer:
May need to check hormone levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It is understandable to be concerned, that is a lot of weight gain with no obvious change in lifestyle (diet and activity).
You can consider visiting your doctor for an assessment. This should include physical examination along with blood tests.
Your doctor may particularly want to check out the levels of some of the hormone e.g thyroid hormone and cortisol. Low levels of thyroid hormone or high levels of cortisol can cause weight gain.
If the weight gain is due to fluid in the abdomen, then this along with shortness of breath, may mean that conditions of the heart, kidney or liver may need to be ruled out.
In many persons, there is no serious cause for increased weight gain and this may be the case of you.
I wish you best, hope this helps.
Take care,
Dr. Michelle Gibson James, General & Family Physician
May need to check hormone levels.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It is understandable to be concerned, that is a lot of weight gain with no obvious change in lifestyle (diet and activity).
You can consider visiting your doctor for an assessment. This should include physical examination along with blood tests.
Your doctor may particularly want to check out the levels of some of the hormone e.g thyroid hormone and cortisol. Low levels of thyroid hormone or high levels of cortisol can cause weight gain.
If the weight gain is due to fluid in the abdomen, then this along with shortness of breath, may mean that conditions of the heart, kidney or liver may need to be ruled out.
In many persons, there is no serious cause for increased weight gain and this may be the case of you.
I wish you best, hope this helps.
Take care,
Dr. Michelle Gibson James, General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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