What's the reason for eating too much and gaining weight

Eating too much and gaining weight may be related to factors such as imbalanced dietary structure, hyperactive gastrointestinal absorption, hypothyroidism, disrupted gut microbiota, insulin resistance, etc. This type of situation involves both physiological metabolic problems and pathological endocrine abnormalities, which need to be improved through a combination of dietary adjustments and medical examinations.

1. Imbalance in dietary structure

A high carbon, high-fat diet can easily lead to excess calories. Refined rice noodles, sweets, fried foods, and other foods have high calorie density but poor satiety, which can easily stimulate the appetite center and lead to overeating. Although bowel movements increase, excess calories are still converted into fat storage. Suggest increasing the proportion of foods rich in dietary fiber such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to slow down gastric emptying.

2. Hyperactivity of gastrointestinal absorption function

Some individuals may experience abnormal increase in the surface area of small intestinal villi or excessive secretion of digestive enzymes. These physiological changes can significantly improve the absorption efficiency of nutrients in food, and even with an increase in bowel movements, the body can still absorb a large amount of excess heat. It is common for people who have long-term strength training or have gene variation, and can reduce the single meal intake through the serving of individual dishes.

3. Hypothyroidism

Insufficient secretion of thyroid hormones can reduce basal metabolic rate. Although patients may experience alternating symptoms of constipation and diarrhea, a decrease in overall energy expenditure can lead to fat accumulation. Accompanied by symptoms such as fear of cold, dry skin, and memory loss, it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis through thyroid function examination. Common medications include levothyroxine sodium tablets, thyroid tablets, etc.

4. Disruption of gut microbiota

A high proportion of Firmicutes in the gut can enhance energy extraction ability. This type of microbial community can break down indigestible dietary fiber in food into short chain fatty acids for the human body to absorb, resulting in actual calorie intake exceeding estimates. Manifested as a large amount of defecation but continuous weight gain, it can be regulated by supplementing probiotics such as bifidobacteria.

5. Decreased insulin sensitivity of insulin resistant

cells promotes fat synthesis. When blood sugar fluctuates violently, the body tends to convert excess glucose into fat storage, and hunger occurs more frequently. Often accompanied by symptoms such as acanthosis nigricans and postprandial drowsiness, a glucose tolerance test is necessary for diagnosis. Improvement methods include aerobic exercise and reducing refined sugar intake.

It is recommended to keep a weekly diet diary and measure changes in waist circumference to avoid excessive reliance on weight scale numbers. Focus on observing physical reactions after eating, such as postprandial bloating, abnormal hunger, and other signals. You can try replacing staple foods with low glycemic index foods such as brown rice and oats, and eating vegetables before protein based foods at each meal. If the symptoms do not improve after adjusting the diet for two weeks, it is necessary to go to the endocrinology department for specialized examinations such as glycated hemoglobin and thyroid function. Moderate intensity exercises such as brisk walking and swimming can help improve insulin sensitivity in daily life, but avoid excessive dieting that can further reduce basal metabolic rate.