When weight increases suddenly, many people often think that the cause comes from eating or little exercise. However, in many cases, this change stems from water retention in the body, also known as weight gain due to water retention.
According to Dr. Pooja Pillai, an internist at Aster CMI Hospital (Bangalore, India), water retention is a phenomenon in which the body retains excess fluid in tissues, completely different from weight gain due to fat retention. This condition is usually temporary but can cause a feeling of heavyness, bloating and swelling.
What is water buildup in the body?
Dr. Pooja Pillai said that water retention occurs when the body does not eliminate excess fluid, causing water to accumulate in tissues. This can cause weight gain to increase rapidly in a short time, often accompanied by a feeling of swelling in the abdomen, face, arms or legs. Unlike excess fat, water retention weight can decrease rapidly in just a few days if you adjust your diet and lifestyle appropriately.
Causes of water retention
According to experts, water retention in the body can stem from many factors, including:
Eating too much salt
Not drinking enough water
Hormonal changes during menstruation or menopause
Side effects of some drugs such as blood pressure medication, steroids or birth control pills
Sitting or standing for a long time without moving
Protein-deprived diet
Prolonged tension
In addition, diseases related to the heart, kidneys or liver can also cause severe water retention and need medical attention.
Signs of weight gain due to water retention
People with water retention often have symptoms such as bloating, swelling, feeling heavy and weight fluctuating rapidly in a few days. A characteristic sign is that when pressing on the swollen skin area, it may leave a slight indentation.
This condition usually improves significantly when reducing salt intake, drinking enough water, exercising, or taking reasonable rest.
Safe way to lose weight due to water retention
To help the body eliminate excess water, experts recommend:
Drink enough water every day to stimulate excretion
Limit salty foods
Increase potassium-rich fruits and vegetables such as bananas and spinach
Maintain gentle exercise to improve circulation
Avoid sitting or standing in one place for too long
Get enough sleep and control stress
Can use pressed socks if feet are often swollen
Small adjustments in daily life are usually enough to help your weight return to normal if the cause is water retention.
When to see a doctor
Dr. Pillai recommends going to the doctor if the water retention appears suddenly, persistently, increasingly severely, or accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, fatigue, little or obvious swelling in one side of the body. This may be a sign of cardiovascular, kidney, liver problems or circulatory disorders that require timely medical intervention.
(The article is for reference only, not for professional advice. Always consult a doctor or medical expert if you have questions).
