Plenty of people will have set a New Year's resolution to shift the extra pounds they put on over . But, there could be medical reasons why you aren't seeing progress - despite doing everything you can.
Dr Ahmed Abd Elbary, who goes by @Dra_says on TikTok, previously shared some advice for those who can not achieve weight loss. He said it's a "very common complaint" that people come to their doctor.
He said there are five medical reasons you may need to get ruled out if you're eating better and exercising more but still struggling. It is best to make an appointment with your doctor to check for the root cause and any possible underlying conditions.
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The doctor pointed out that people with underactive thyroids may struggle to slim down. In fact, .
Dr Ahmed suggested women should also get checked for - which is another condition that may limit your weight loss plans. You'll possibly notice signs like excessive hair growth, sweating, acne and irregular periods if you have this issue.
According to the , . Many women discover they have PCOS when they're having difficulty getting pregnant.
The qualified GP went on to suggest more medical causes that could be blocking weight loss. He said hormones play a major role in this natural process, and any imbalance from , perimenopause and low testosterone for men could hold you back.
He suggested that "excessive levels" of cortisol, a stress hormone, might hinder weight loss. The syndrome is rare and mostly affects people who have been taking steroid medicine, especially steroid tablets, for a long time.
Finally, the doctor says the fifth reason is the "most obvious but gets missed quite a lot." He said: "Are you taking any medications that are causing weight gain? Most commonly, things like antidepressants, antipsychotics and even some diabetic medications can do this."
Dr Ahmed urged anyone who thinks their current medication could be causing them to gain weight to speak with their GP. This is likely to lead to a medication review that can try to fix the issue.
