Weight gain

Overview
Weight gain is an increase in body weight. It is generally caused by the intake of excess calories, little exercise, or may be caused by a medical condition. One exception is bodybuilding, in which muscle is gained by workout routines. With a large differential diagnosis, weight gain is a prevalent complaint among adult patients.

It may be intentional or unintentional, sometimes for muscle building, or for health reasons, i.e. increasing body fat percentage to a healthy amount. Intentional reasons may include gaining weight to get to a healthy weight, bodybuilding, and recovery for eating disorders like Anorexia Nervousa.

See also obesity for a full discussion.

Symptoms

 * A noticibly larger, rounder stomach.
 * Increase in body fat percentage.
 * Increase in muscle mass.
 * Increase in body hydration levels.

Differential Diagnosis of Causes of
Causes include;

Acute or chronic Liver Disease

Congestive Heart Failure Cushing's Syndrome
 * Decreased hepatic protein production causes a decrease in intravascular oncotic pressure
 * Leads to edema, ascites etc.
 * Cortisol levels may be elevated due to
 * Adrenocorticotropic hormones secreting adrenal adenoma
 * Adrenal hyperplasia
 * Adrenocorticotropic hormone secreting ectopic tumor

Diabetes Mellitus Hyperplasia Hypothalamic lesions Growth hormone deficiency Medication side effects Premenstrual syndrome Pregnancy Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
 * Due to Hyperthyroidism
 * Oral contraceptives
 * Corticosteroids
 * Antidepressants
 * Hirsutism
 * Irregular menstrual cycle
 * Insulin resistance
 * Obesity

Laboratory Findings

 * fasting glucose
 * urinealysis
 * U&E
 * Random cortisol

Primary Prevention

 * Low calorie diet and excercise

Acknowledgements
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