Hello there "Nairalanders!" A warm compliment of the season to you all, I have missed you guys on this platform. To all my readers, the admin unit, and fellow writers I say a big thank you for the love and support.
Without further Ado, let's delve into the topic of the day.
"The dilemma of weight gain"
We know it's the time of the year when we go on Christmas break, and a lot of us spend the holiday recuperating from the year's hard work and in turn, gain extra pounds that may be difficult to shed when it begins to get in the way of our daily lives...lol it is good to have a healthy weight. However, it is necessary to stay fit rather than out of shape.

So we begin with the question that I know many have the layman's idea of what weight gain is all about

Weight gain simply put is an increase in body mass index (BMI) or say body weight.
Taking in more calories than usual as a result of diet change or inclusion of certain foods or sweets you weren't consuming before.
Cutting back on normal exercise routines for some people can lead to weight gain.
According to Harvard Health reporter Heidi Goodman, weight gain might stem from many other causes such as age-related underlying conditions and medication side effects.
*Note* Calorie is a unit used in measuring the amount of energy food provides when eaten and digested. The more calories a food has the more energy it can provide to your body. Excess calories more than the body needs are stored as BODY FAT.

What stages does weight gain occur naturally?

Weight gain can occur naturally with
1. Changes in lifestyle-from healthy to junk foods which are high in cholesterol, alcohol consumption, late night feeding, etc

2. During pregnancy and after pregnancy- some women tend to develop unhealthy eating habits that can gain them more weight which becomes difficult to lose after delivery.

3. Stress resulting from break ups, loss of jobs, and relationship tussles can trigger unnecessary eating habits, induce sleeplessness ( sleep apnea), and hinder your once-regular physical activities.
Cortisol, a hormone that increases craving for food can be increased to higher levels due to stress (Today.com)

4. Aging- some individuals blame menopause, and birth control pills as the reason for their weight gain, however, it is not entirely true.
As one ages, the body's metabolism reduces and lean muscles are being replaced by fats.
As written by Medline Plus, the amount of body fat increases steadily after age 30 and older people may have one-third more fat compared to when they were younger.

The Dilemma of weight gain and why you need to control that fat

*Excessive fats such as trans fats and saturated fats can raise cholesterol levels in the blood which can lead to heart disease.

* You can experience fatigue (tiredness) at the shortest distance you walk.

* Gaining too much weight without exercising can lead to difficulty in movement, and weakness, and leaves you prone to diseases faster than people with normal weight.

* According to Bannerhealth.com, excess weight gain can put you at risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, breast, endometrial, colon, gallbladder, and kidney cancer.

* Often, too much weight hinders surgical procedures and this may require one to lose a few pounds which may be a little difficult to achieve.

* Someone battling with excess weight gain can go into depression and the level of confidence in performing daily activities drops as well.

On a final note, you and I don't need to go through these dilemmas hence it is good to always maintain a healthy weight by
✓ Keeping your weight in check
✓ Avoid certain habits like alcohol consumption and foods and sweets high in sugar content.
✓ Maintain a balanced diet with whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and the right amount of healthy fats.
✓ Most importantly get regular exercise.