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Female bare feet with weight scale on wooden floor

Las razones más comunes por las que no estás perdiendo peso

If you're worried about not reaching your ideal weight - despite recently shedding some pounds - we explore potential reasons why your weight loss may have plateaued.

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You're not sleeping well

When you sleep your body naturally slows down and uses less energy. You might sleep for ten hours and feel fine in the morning. But try not eating or drinking for the same amount of time. You'd be thirsty and hungry, right?

If you're having trouble sleeping, then your body tends to go into stress mode. Stress hormones such as cortisol are naturally low at night, but will go up again if we're awake. Cortisol makes our bodies lay down fat reserves 'just in case'.

Plus if you're awake, you're up and possibly in the kitchen - so your tendency to snack is higher.

The underlying question is - why aren't you sleeping?

You're feeling anxious, stressed or depressed

Sarah Walford, a nutritionist based in London, explains that stress is a two-fold process.

"Some people feel so anxious they can't eat, while others tend to binge eat," she says. "When you feel stressed, your body releases cortisol in an attempt to free up sugar into your bloodstream. If you then can't burn off that sugar it gets converted to fatty acids, which makes you put on weight. That kind of weight gain is often around the tummy rather than the arms or legs."

Scientists have also found a potential link between carbohydrates and serotonin - the hormone that helps to regulate your mood. There is a theory that, without realising it, by eating carbohydrates you are attempting to boost your serotonin levels when you feel depressed. Hence why we love 'comfort food' when we're feeling down - such as pizza, mashed potato, toast.

But of course, all that carbohydrate can make you put on weight.

You're working night shifts or long hours

Walford explains that, nowadays, more people work through the night.

"Think nurses, factory workers, delivery drivers, office cleaners," she says. "Your body wants to be asleep, but if you're awake and working then your cortisol production kicks in. This is the same bad cycle we see in people who are stressed or anxious. Cortisol frees up sugar which - if it isn't burnt off - gets converted to fatty acids and laid down as fat."

With more people working nights, this increases the chance of negative consequences for their weight and health.

When you work nights, you also tend to eat unhealthily and mainly during the later hours. This is bad for your health, but also tends to make you put on weight because your body can't digest food as efficiently at night as during the day.

If you do work nights, try regular small snacks which are high in protein or fibre. Some grilled meat or fish, a salad and plenty of water can help get you through your shift.

You're skipping meals or 'yo-yo' dieting

You're going out for dinner with friends later, so what do you do for lunch? Skip it? This technique is unlikely to lead to weight loss.

Walford warns: "Skipping meals puts your body into self-defence mode. Low food intake slows your metabolism down. So then when you go back to eating normally you're putting food into your body but not burning it off as quickly."

You end up putting the weight back on and sometimes even more than before."

Walford's talking about the unhealthy technique of skipping meals followed by binge-eating, rather than 'intermittent fasting' - made famous by the 5:2 diet - for weight loss. Intermittent fasting works but it's a tougher regime for some people to maintain than merely eating a bit less. And it's not a good idea if you've had an trastorno alimenticio in the past.

You're into the coffee shop culture

In most places there's plenty of coffee shops. These coffees or hot chocolates may taste nice and make you feel good - for a bit - but they aren't a great choice if you're trying to lose weight.

Walford suggests you watch the milk: "Many white coffees or hot chocolates from cafes have much more milk in than you would put in yourself at home."

And, coffee shop 'mixed drinks' such as a mocha or blended ice-coffee tend to have a lot of sugar in too. Trying to lose weight, but love your coffee? Try black, no sugar.

You're eating more than you think

Studies that go back to the 1990s have consistently shown that we underestimate how much we eat.

If you're having trouble keeping track of what you eat, try snapping a photo of literally everything you eat or drink over a 24-hour period. The results might surprise you.

Preguntas frecuentes

How does sleep deprivation specifically lead to fat being stored around the tummy area?

When you're awake and not sleeping well, your body's stress hormones like cortisol increase. Cortisol can cause your body to store fat, particularly around the abdominal area, as a 'just in case' reserve.

Can managing anxiety, stress, or depression help with preventing weight gain?

Yes, stress releases cortisol, which can lead to sugar being freed into your bloodstream. If this sugar isn't burned off, it's converted into fatty acids and often leads to weight gain, particularly around the tummy. Addressing anxiety, stress, or depression could help mitigate this hormonal response.

What's the best way to handle food choices if I often work night shifts?

If you work nights, try to eat regular, small snacks that are high in protein or fibre. Examples include grilled meat or fish, a salad, and drinking plenty of water throughout your shift. This can help sustain you and counteract the tendency for unhealthy eating patterns at night.

Are there specific types of carbohydrates that are better for mood without causing weight gain?

The article links carbohydrates to a potential boost in serotonin, which regulates mood, explaining why we crave 'comfort foods' like pizza or mashed potato when feeling down. However, it notes that this consumption of carbohydrates can lead to weight gain. It does not specify particular types of carbohydrates that offer mood benefits without the associated weight gain.

How can I accurately track my food intake if I tend to underestimate what I eat?

To get a more accurate picture of your eating habits, try taking a photo of literally everything you consume, both food and drink, over a 24-hour period. This visual record can often reveal surprising insights into your actual intake.

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Dr Oliver Starr, MRCGP

MBChB, BMedSc, MRCS, MRCGP, DRCOG

Dr Oliver Starr is a general practitioner in Hertfordshire and an undergraduate tutor at University College Medical School.

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Dr Krishna Vakharia, MRCGP

Director Médico de Salud, Optum UK

MBChB, MRCGP(2013), BMedSci (hons), DFSRH, DRCOG, PGDipDerm (Distn)

La Dra. Krishna Vakharia es una médica general del NHS. También es examinadora habitual del Diploma de Posgrado en Dermatología Práctica en la Universidad de Cardiff, además de ser la Directora Médica de salud en Optum UK.

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