MANILA, Philippines?Have you been eating less and increased your physical activities, but noticed you are not losing weight?

Have you been buying loose clothes only to find out in less than a month that they?ve become tight? Has the woman in the mirror become fuller despite your attempts to lose weight?

Sometimes the explanation to one?s rapid weight gain is not simply excessive food intake, lack of exercise or slowing metabolism due to age.

If the symptoms are thinning hair, excessive sleepiness, constipation, exhaustion, swelling legs, dry skin, depression and cold intolerance, you are most likely suffering from a condition called hypothyroidism.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland found right under your Adam?s apple which secretes thyroid hormones.

If it secretes too little, your metabolism slows down and you gain weight even with regular diet and exercise.

If it secretes too much, you have hyperthyroid. Your metabolism speeds up so you keep on losing weight without even trying, but you cannot sleep and have high risk for heart attacks. You sweat excessively, your eyes bulge and suffer from LBM.

Either way, you need to see a doctor.

If you experience weight gain along with two or more symptoms listed above for hypothyroid, it is best you see an endocrinologist who will prescribe the necessary medication and blood test.

Those of you who think they will save money or avoid the doctor by just taking diet pills, exercising more and eating nothing?you may die of starvation but still be overweight.

Ask your family doctor or call your hospital to recommend an endocrinologist.

Something wrong

When the formerly effortless 10,000 steps a day became an ordeal for me because I was just too sleepy all the time, when despite my weight-loss efforts and frequent trips to the bathroom for elimination, I would add three to five pounds a week to my frame, I knew something was wrong.

I also noticed one day that I could see most of my scalp and have dry hair (the hairdressers commented on this too).

Depression set in when people kept teasing me about me piling on weight. I refused to leave the house and see other people.

I also found I could not concentrate on anything due to brain fog and grogginess.

Writer?s block became more frequent. I also had joint pains, and swollen calves and ankles. My self-esteem was in an all-time low.

All the hair-thickening and body-sculpting products and treatments that worked wonders for me before started to fail me miserably.

On the upside, my normally acne-prone oily skin dried up, leaving me with even-toned, satin-like poreless skin that made me look as if I had been Photoshopped.

Those who already have normal to dry skin will feel great discomfort in relation to tightness, deeper lines and more wrinkles when they develop hypo.

Blood test results showed I had an elevation in bad cholesterol despite my healthy diet of mostly fish and vegetables.

Sure enough, my thyroid test it showed positive for mild hypothyroidism.

It is best to have yourself tested soon if you suspect you may have a metabolic problem as with the holidays coming up your weight gain will be out of control.

What does this article have to do with beauty? Unless you relish getting fat, growing bald and having more wrinkles, the answer is?a whole lot!

E-mail the author at kinnysalas@yahoo.com