Can’t lose weight? The cause may be due to poor nutrition, genetics or hormones. Find out
If you are trying to lose weight but you can’t lose a single kilo, you need to know the real problem to find a solution. In this sense, the problem is often the result of a poor diet, but other times it can be related to a genetic origin or a hormonal issue.
In other words, you try a thousand diets and do intense exercise routines, but you can’t lose weight. What’s the key? Finding the reason. To do this, in this article, we are going to discuss the main causes that may have an impact on this problem. Pay attention.
“Why can’t I lose a kilo”: main factors
You’ve tried everything. You’ve tried a thousand diets, you’ve undergone intense exercise routines, you’ve probably taken supplements, and even tried all kinds of tricks to lose weight, but nothing has worked.
But far from being frustrated and discouraged, the first thing you need to do is find the key factor that is preventing you from losing a kilo. In this sense, the reason may be a physiological factor (genetic or hormonal) or related to bad habits that prevent you from losing weight.
How bad habits affect weight loss
Many times, the main mistakes have to do with the daily habits that are followed and that prevent weight loss. Below we list the most common mistakes :
- 1. Poor rest: sleeping less than 8 hours at night can increase your calorie consumption the next day by about 600 extra kcal.
- 2. Not eating properly: skipping meals or eating too little, thinking that it will help you lose weight, can lead to episodes of compulsive consumption. This stimulates hunger hormones and those that prevent the burning of body fat.
- 3. Extra calories: Eating extra calories can prevent weight loss.
- 4. Stress: Chronic stress (physical or emotional) leads to a higher level of cortisol, a stress hormone that promotes fat concentration and therefore makes weight loss more difficult.
- 5. Eating ultra-processed foods: These foods only provide a lot of calories, sugars, and fats, which promotes weight gain.
- 6. Inactivity: Several studies claim that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the worst enemies of good health and weight loss.
- 7. Drug use: some medications cause weight gain and generate a certain resistance to losing weight.
- 8. Instability: Being unstable in diet and physical exercise does not facilitate weight loss.
How some health problems influence weight control
If the problem is due to bad lifestyle habits, it is advisable to consult a doctor and work as a team with a nutritionist and an endocrinologist to find a solution to your weight problem.
1. Metabolic syndrome: This condition alters the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels . This problem may be genetic in origin, but also poor eating habits, lack of physical exercise, and alcohol or tobacco consumption can cause metabolic syndrome .
2 Hormonal imbalances: When there is a disruption in vital hormones, such as thyroxine, cortisol, and estrogen, it can affect weight control .
Hormonal changes affect fat distribution. During menopause, a woman’s body produces less estrogen (a sex hormone), which can make it difficult to lose weight .
3 Slow metabolism: This means that the metabolism slows down and it is harder to burn calories, which increases body fat, especially in the abdominal area. The most common risk factors are age, genetics, and other medical conditions.
4. Thyroid disorders: one of the first suspicions when you are unable to lose weight is a problem with the thyroid gland. According to the European Thyroid Journal, the hormones released by this organ are key in regulating body weight.
5. Insulin resistance: This condition is common in type 2 diabetes, and influences the way the body processes glucose (sugar) in the blood, leading to weight gain or difficulty losing a kilo or more.
