That Post-Sickness Weight Gain Isn’t Random; Here’s What’s Happening

You just suffered from an ailment and are feeling much better now. Just to check on your weight, you step on the weighing machine, only to find that you have gained instead of losing weight. But weight gain is

a surprisingly common phenomenon—and confusing as well. Post-sickness weight gain is not random. It indicates actual physiological changes that occur in your body when a person is fighting and recovering after being sick.

Body Retains Fluid During Illness

The most obvious cause of weight gain after an illness is fluid retention. When your immune system goes on hyper alert to combat infection, inflammatory chemicals are released. The chemicals increase the permeability of the blood vessels and allow fluids to leak into the surrounding tissue. This causes swelling. This water weight appears on the scale, but it is not the actual fat gain. Also, stress hormones such as “cortisol”, which increases with sickness, are transmitted to the kidneys to preserve sodium and water, leading to an increase in total body water.

Metabolism Alters With the Hormone Change

Sickness is not merely a physical struggle, but it is a hormonal struggle. Chronic stress caused by ill health triggers the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, increasing the amount of cortisol. This is because of the fact that high cortisol levels not only increase water retention, but they can also alter the way the body stores energy, particularly around the abdomen. These can have a lasting effect even after being cured. This is often associated with slowing metabolism and increasing appetite or cravings, and this may be part of the reason behind weight gain.

Less Exercise Means Low Calorie Burn

The majority of people radically reduce physical activity during sickness. The daily movement is slowed down by bed rest and fatigue, reducing your total calorie expenditure. When your diet fails to reduce in proportion to that, then your body will end up in a caloric surplus, which may cause weight gain. It might take time to regain muscle and re-establish your level of energy, even after you begin feeling better.

Drugs and Their Effects on Weight

There are medicines that are often taken when one is sick, particularly corticosteroids, which have been identified to stimulate appetite and make the body retain fluid. These medications resemble cortisol and have the potential to make the person gain weight rapidly, particularly when administered over a few days. Even the most popular over-the-counter medicines, such as antihistamines, may affect appetite or fluid balance.

Shift of Appetite and Eating Patterns

When one is sick, eating habits are compromised. For some, appetite is being suppressed, whereas others seek comfort in foods that are rich in calories and sodium. These foods may cause short-term weight gain by contributing to excess calories and also providing water retention.When the weight gain is rapid and permanent to the point of non-recovery, it is worth visiting a healthcare professional, particularly when swelling or other signs are present. Being aware of your body during this healing season allows you to realise that your body’s reaction is not random but rather accommodative.