Does your scale show a different weight each time you weigh yourself? Don’t panic, these weight fluctuations are normal and very common. Indeed, people whose weight never changes are very rare. These variations are due to different factors linked mainly to lifestyle.
In a publication posted on Instagram, dietician-nutritionist Jessica Peyrou looked at the main causes of weight variations.
What are the main causes of weight variation?
In her post, the nutritionist identified 8 major causes which would be at the origin of a weight fluctuation. Here they are :
Hormones
It is well known that hormones do as they please. Between taking the contraceptive pill, menstruation and menopause, women are the most common victims. All these hormonal variations can have a significant influence on weight.
A larger or later dinner the night before
When you eat a little more at a meal, especially in the evening, the body has more difficulty eliminating it, and tends to store it more. This explains a variation in weight visible on the scale. This also applies to a later meal.
Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep is a recognized factor in obesity. It disrupts metabolism and in particular the way we burn calories. It also pushes you to eat more, which causes weight fluctuations.
The stress
When we are stressed, we tend to reach for sugary and fatty products, which are bad for our health. Indeed, stress triggers cravings, which promotes weight gain.
A saltier meal
Salt is a flavor enhancer that can enhance even the blandest dishes. Even if it is “caloric”, that is to say that it does not contain any energy nutrients, it still makes food more attractive, and encourages you to eat more than necessary. It therefore plays a role in weight variations.
Insufficient or excess hydration
Drinking water helps hydrate all the tissues of the body. This is also essential for the “transport” of all the substances contained in the body (minerals, vitamins, nutrients, etc.). Hydration also helps eliminate toxins. Thus, without hydration, the impurities present in the body are not eliminated.
Prolonged immobility
We know that practicing physical activity is essential for health, in particular it allows you to burn calories. Thus, periods of immobility may play a crucial role in weight changes.
An irregular transit
Having a properly functioning intestinal transit is essential. This allows you to restore your usual weight when it is disturbed. If your transit is irregular, this can cause weight gain for a few days, then sudden weight loss.
In the caption of her post, the nutritionist recalls that “the scale cannot be the only indicator.” She advises taking a step back from the weight indicated by the scale and specifies that there are other causes of weight variations.