Photo: Brett Jordan

Why am I so bloated and gaining weight?

Some causes may be related to stress, alcohol consumption, or medications. Other causes can be a result of health conditions like hypothyroidism or PCOS. Many causes of stomach swelling and weight gain can be treated with lifestyle changes and medications. However, others, such as ascites, can be serious.

healthline.com - Swollen Stomach and Weight Gain: Causes of Abdominal Bloating

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In this article we’ll take a closer look at what can cause stomach swelling along with unexpected weight gain , and discuss when it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

So, what does it mean when these two symptoms — stomach bloating and weight gain — occur together?

In addition to abdominal bloating or swelling, it’s possible that you may have noticed that you’ve also gained some weight without changing your exercise routine or diet. Bloating or swelling around your stomach or abdomen can have many causes, including digestive conditions, hormonal changes, and even some medications. Outlined below are possible causes of a swollen stomach and weight gain that can affect both men and women. Some of these causes are related to lifestyle factors while others may be a symptom of a more serious medical condition.

Stress

It’s possible that high levels of stress can cause weight gain and bloating. Too much stress can have a variety of negative effects on your body, including on your digestive symptom. When you’re stressed, you can experience gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like bloating, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. Additionally, some researchers believe that stress may contribute to your perception of abdominal bloating. Stress can also cause some people to “stress eat.” In fact, about 40 percent of people increase food intake when they’re feeling stressed. It’s also possible that stress may lead to a decrease in physical activity. Along with stress eating, this can cause weight gain. There are steps you can take to help reduce your stress levels. For instance you can try:

getting regular exercise

prioritizing your sleep and aiming for at least 7-8 hours rest each night

relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises

listening to music or writing down your thoughts

indulging in a favorite hobby

Alcohol consumption

Alcohol is an inflammatory substance that can affect many parts of your body, including your digestive system. Alcohol consumption can lead to several unpleasant GI symptoms like bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort. Alcohol is full of empty calories. Per gram, it has almost twice as many calories as carbs or protein, yet provides no nutritional value. Because of its calorie content, increased alcohol intake can lead to weight gain. You can prevent alcohol-related bloating and weight gain by drinking in moderation. This means one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. A standard drink is considered to be:

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12 ounces of beer (5 percent alcohol)

8 ounces of malt liquor (7 percent alcohol)

5 ounces of wine (12 percent alcohol)

1.5 ounces of liquor (40 percent alcohol)

Medications

It’s possible that some types of medications can cause abdominal bloating and weight gain. Some examples include:

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation in your body. Fluid retention as well as weight gain, particularly around the abdomen and face, are potential side effects of oral corticosteroids. Other possible side effects include:

Oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives can also cause bloating. While you may gain some weight on these medications, studies have indicated that they don’t lead to major weight gain. Other possible side effects of oral contraceptives include:

Antibiotics

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. Because they can also affect bacteria in your digestive tract, they can cause GI symptoms like bloating. Other potential side effects of antibiotics include: Because GI bacteria can play a role in weight gain, it’s also possible that changes to GI bacteria through the use of antibiotics may contribute to weight gain. However, more research is needed in this area.

Ascites

Ascites is a condition that’s characterized by fluid buildup in your abdomen. It’s the most common complication of cirrhosis, a condition that’s caused by scarring or damage to your liver.

In addition to cirrhosis, additional causes of ascites can include:

Ascites happens when high blood pressure in the veins of the liver (portal hypertension) is combined with reduced liver function. This causes fluid to accumulate in the abdomen. Symptoms can include:

swollen or distended abdomen

weight gain

abdominal pain or discomfort

shortness of breath

feeling full quickly after eating (early satiety)

The overall goal of ascites treatment is to limit the amount of fluid that builds up in the abdomen. Treatment options can involve:

diuretic medication, which helps remove water from the body through increased urination

insertion of a temporary drain in your abdomen to remove fluid

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placement of a shunt within your abdomen that reroutes blood flow around the liver

liver transplant

Cushing’s syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome is a condition in which your body produces too much cortisol. You may be familiar with cortisol as your “stress hormone.” Cortisol can impact all areas of your body and is important for processes like:

responding to stress

maintaining blood pressure

reducing inflammation

regulating the way nutrients are turned into energy

Most of the time, Cushing’s syndrome develops due to the prolonged use of corticosteroids, which are used to treat conditions like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Specific types of tumors can also cause the condition. Because of the broad action of cortisol throughout the body, Cushing’s syndrome has a wide variety of symptoms. Two of them are weight gain and accumulation of fat around the abdomen. Other symptoms include: If Cushing’s syndrome is caused by corticosteroid medications, your doctor will likely reduce the dose or recommend an alternative medication. Surgery can be performed to remove tumors that are causing Cushing’s syndrome.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone helps your body utilize energy. When there’s not enough of it, your body’s processes can slow down. This includes processes like metabolism. In fact, one of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is weight gain. Your digestive system can also be impacted, slowing the movement (motility) of your intestines. This decreased motility can increase the risk of a condition called small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). SIBO often causes bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort. Some research has linked it to hypothyroidism. In addition to weight gain and, potentially, bloating, other symptoms of hypothyroidism include: Hypothyroidism is treated with a medication called levothyroxine. This is a hormone medication that works to replace the missing thyroid hormone.

healthline.com - Swollen Stomach and Weight Gain: Causes of Abdominal Bloating

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