Bloating and weight gain, when they occur together, are most often caused by too much sodium in the diet. Eating too much salt on a daily basis can cause a person to retain water, which quickly leads to bloating. Fortunately, weight gain caused by a high sodium diet is one of the easiest types of weight to lose, simply by making some dietary changes and reading labels when purchasing foods in the grocery store.
There are a few other medical issues that can cause bloating and weight gain, including issues with the gallbladder, as well as a few different medications. Birth control pills can easily cause these problems as well, and they are common occurrences when a woman has premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Bloating by itself is a temporary condition, and it should resolve fairly quickly. If it does not, a visit to a healthcare professional may be in order to rule out any medical causes.
Primarily, however, the leading cause of bloating and its associated weight gain is a diet that is high in salt, leading to water retention as well as issues such as high blood pressure. Salt is found in many prepackaged and prepared foods, and there is often a great deal of it in restaurant meals as well. Even if a person does not add extra salt to meals, it is hidden in many foods. Microwave dinners, for example, are loaded with sodium, as are canned vegetables and other foods. Sometimes, bloating may also be caused by eating foods high in fiber, but this should not usually cause weight gain.
When an individual cuts back on salt and starts drinking more water, it is possible to lose weight from water retention fairly quickly. Sometimes, switching a birth control prescription to a different brand or formulation of pill can help as well. There are a number of different birth control pill manufacturers, and it can take some trial and error before finding one that works well without causing unpleasant side effects.
Many people find that changing their diet and increasing the amount of exercise that they do every day are the best ways to prevent bloating and weight gain. Individuals should make note if any specific foods seem to cause bloating; soda, for example, often causes gas to build up in the stomach, and it is fairly high in sodium as well. Water or iced tea is a better beverage choice. If the weight gain is caused by medication, a healthcare professional may be able to prescribe a different drug or offer suggestions as to how to offset the unpleasant side effects.