Unexplained weight gain over the past 5 years

Hello AskDocs! 29-year old female from Germany here. For the past 5 years I have been slowly gaining weight, going from 160 lbs in early 2013 to nearly 210 lbs now. What troubles me is that I can't seem to find an explanation for all the weight. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

A bit of background: In 2008-ish I had a radical change in my eating patterns as I started to only eat when I was actually hungry and did not eat the copious amounts of candy and chocolate that I used to eat in my teenage years. My weight dropped to 160-170 lbs where it stayed until 2013. My eating patterns haven't changed, if anything I have tried to eat less as the weight gain progressed.

I've been taking medication for hypothyreodism since 2005-ish, the dose was always monitored and I take the same dose as in 2013 (175 mgs of Levothyroxine). The results from blood tests always come back fine. In 2016 I had to get iron infusions as my levels were so low.

Physically, I have always felt fine. I have always been quite muscular and like activities such as swimming, cycling and walking (we got a dog in 2013). For a while, I felt very much at odds with my body, but have now accepted its new size.

I asked two doctors about possible reasons for the weight gain. One suggested that there might be bacteria in my intestines that could cause weight gain. However, a test to look for said bacteria came back negative. I also had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy in 2016 to check whether there were any issues that caused the low iron levels (also, I often had diarrhea at that time).

The only change, apart from the obvious change in my looks, has been a change in my body odor which may have started around 2014 (although I'm not quite sure). Deodorants and perfume still have the same effect and my wife has not noticed any changes for the worse, but I've noticed that fresh sweat, most significantly in the underam region, smells different. I am not sure whether it is the smell that is different or whether my nose perceives smells differently? Either way, I have the secret hope that the smell could be tied to some sort of hormonal imbalance that also causes the weight gain.

I would really appreciate your help!

TL;DR: Gained 50 lbs over the past 5 years without change in diet or exercise, am wondering whether it could have something to do with hormones (changed body odour).

Hello AskDocs! 29-year old female from Germany here. For the past 5 years I have been slowly gaining weight, going from 160 lbs in early 2013 to nearly 210 lbs now. What troubles me is that I can't seem to find an explanation for all the weight. So any help would be greatly appreciated.A bit of background: In 2008-ish I had a radical change in my eating patterns as I started to only eat when I was actually hungry and did not eat the copious amounts of candy and chocolate that I used to eat in my teenage years. My weight dropped to 160-170 lbs where it stayed until 2013. My eating patterns haven't changed, if anything I have tried to eat less as the weight gain progressed.I've been taking medication for hypothyreodism since 2005-ish, the dose was always monitored and I take the same dose as in 2013 (175 mgs of Levothyroxine). The results from blood tests always come back fine. In 2016 I had to get iron infusions as my levels were so low.Physically, I have always felt fine. I have always been quite muscular and like activities such as swimming, cycling and walking (we got a dog in 2013). For a while, I felt very much at odds with my body, but have now accepted its new size.I asked two doctors about possible reasons for the weight gain. One suggested that there might be bacteria in my intestines that could cause weight gain. However, a test to look for said bacteria came back negative. I also had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy in 2016 to check whether there were any issues that caused the low iron levels (also, I often had diarrhea at that time).The only change, apart from the obvious change in my looks, has been a change in my body odor which may have started around 2014 (although I'm not quite sure). Deodorants and perfume still have the same effect and my wife has not noticed any changes for the worse, but I've noticed that fresh sweat, most significantly in the underam region, smells different. I am not sure whether it is the smell that is different or whether my nose perceives smells differently? Either way, I have the secret hope that the smell could be tied to some sort of hormonal imbalance that also causes the weight gain.I would really appreciate your help!TL;DR: Gained 50 lbs over the past 5 years without change in diet or exercise, am wondering whether it could have something to do with hormones (changed body odour). http://ift.tt/eA8V8J http://ift.tt/2olFz2C

Comments