Eating less doesn't necessarily mean weight loss. Many people follow strict diets but still don't lose weight, and some even gain it.
The human body is a complex system. Therefore, weight depends not only on the amount of food we eat but also on many other factors, according to the health website Healthline (USA).
Prolonged stress can cause weight gain even when eating less. PHOTO: AI
If you're gaining weight despite eating less, it could be due to the following reasons.
The body adapts to eating less
When maintaining a diet for an extended period, the body gradually adapts to this change. To protect vital functions, the body automatically slows down its metabolism. This means less energy is consumed for basic activities such as respiration, circulation, and maintaining body temperature.
This mechanism causes the body to switch to an "energy-saving" state. As a result, even if you eat very little, the number of calories burned decreases accordingly, making weight loss difficult. Furthermore, even eating slightly more tends to cause the body to quickly store energy as fat.
This is why many people successfully lose weight by following a diet. However, over time, the rate of weight loss slows down, and then they start gaining weight back. In the long run, this method also weakens the body and makes it more difficult to control weight.
Stress can easily lead to fat accumulation
Prolonged stress is one of the common but often overlooked causes. When stressed, the body releases more cortisol, a hormone that helps us react to threats.
However, if cortisol levels remain high for an extended period, it can cause several adverse changes. The body tends to store more fat, especially in the abdominal area. At the same time, cortisol slows down the calorie burning process, leading to cravings for sugary and fatty foods.
In addition, stress affects other lifestyle habits such as poor sleep, lack of exercise, or irregular eating habits, which indirectly contribute to weight gain.
Eating less but at the wrong time
Many people focus only on the quantity of food and forget that the timing of meals is also very important. The human body operates according to a circadian rhythm, meaning that the ability to digest and utilize energy changes throughout the day.
When you eat late, especially at night, your body tends to process energy less efficiently. Instead of burning energy, your body is more likely to store it as fat.
Incorrect calorie intake
One very common reason is that many people think they eat little, but that's not actually the case. We often tend to underestimate the number of calories in the food we eat, especially snacks or drinks.
For example, a glass of bubble tea, soda, or a few small pieces of cake can contain quite a few calories, but these are easily overlooked when calculating your intake. Eating while working, looking at your phone, or watching movies also makes it difficult to realize how much you've eaten. These hidden calories accumulate and can cause your total daily calorie intake to exceed your needs, even if you feel like you've eaten little, according to Healthline.