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Published on: 7/15/2025

Is it possible to gain weight by eating too few calories?

Eating too few calories can lead to weight gain because it may increase stress hormones and affect metabolism.

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Explanation

When you eat too few calories, your body can react in ways that might cause weight gain instead of loss. 1. Stress Hormones: Low calorie diets can increase stress hormones like cortisol. High levels of cortisol might make your body hold onto fat rather than burn it. 2. Metabolism Changes: Eating very few calories can slow down your metabolism. This means your body uses less energy, which can make it harder to lose weight. 3. Health Effects: Very low calorie diets can have other health impacts, like affecting your thyroid, which helps control how your body uses energy.

In summary, while it might seem like eating less would lead to weight loss, the body’s complex reactions can sometimes cause the opposite effect.

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