Can a medical condition make me fat?

[tobetinytina]

Is it possible to gain weight not because of your diet and lack of exercise? What are some medical conditions that could cause weight gain?

[bigbobby]

I think certain medical conditions can contribute to weight gain. I think having a thyroid problem can do it, depression can do it, and taking certain medications to treat certain medical issues can contribute to weight gain a well, either because they make you lethargic dramatically,boost your hunger, or cause you to retain a lot of water.

[antoniojones1968]

Yes. Cushing's syndrome, depression and hypothyroidism can all lead to weight gain.

[chefmel]

Yes. Cushing's syndrome, depression and hypothyroidism can all lead to weight gain.

Really? How can these conditions make you gain weight? Is it all water weight?

[freddyboy]

Really? How can these conditions make you gain weight? Is it all water weight?

I would guess either by making you retain water, by sucking out your energy so you don't feel motivated to exercise/move (burn calories/fat) and because they probably effect your appetite in some way. Maybe they disrupt your sleep so you're more likely to eat high-fat foods or maybe they just make you feel hungry all the time. I had a friend who took an anxiety med once and he said that he just never stopped feeling hungry, no matter how much he ate he never felt full. He said it was an awful feeling. He gained a lot of weight when he was on those pills. As soon as he got off them though, he lost all the weight because the hunger side effect went away.

[tobetinytina]

I would guess either by making you retain water, by sucking out your energy so you don't feel motivated to exercise/move (burn calories/fat) and because they probably effect your appetite in some way. Maybe they disrupt your sleep so you're more likely to eat high-fat foods or maybe they just make you feel hungry all the time. I had a friend who took an anxiety med once and he said that he just never stopped feeling hungry, no matter how much he ate he never felt full. He said it was an awful feeling. He gained a lot of weight when he was on those pills. As soon as he got off them though, he lost all the weight because the hunger side effect went away.

Okay. This makes a lot of sense. That's terrible that your friend felt that way though. Feeling hungry is awful. I can't imagine feeling that way all the time. I would gain tons of weight if I did.