What It Might Mean If You Have Weight Fluctuation

It may be frustrating to see your scale tip toward your ideal weight, and then the next day start headed back up. But weight fluctuation is a very normal part of being human.

According to Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, a nutrition consultant for RSP Nutrition, “We have constant fluid shifts and metabolic processes that contribute to our weight. You'll notice that your weight is lower in the morning; you haven't drank/eaten anything all night, so by sheer laws of mass alone, you'll weigh less. Then you'll have 16 ounces of water and a pound will appear on the scale."

Did you suddenly "get fat"? Not exactly. “There's fluid losses from exercise, bowel movements, shifts from salt and sugar, and medications can cause shifts, not to mention cyclical hormone fluctuations can have tremendous weight effects, especially on women,” Moreno says.

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Though daily weight fluctuation is typical and isn’t a big deal, frequent ups and downs throughout your lifetime is not healthy. Says Dr. David Greuner of NYC Surgical Associates, “A person’s weight fluctuates a little from day to day due to the fluids in your body. Food weight and water weight cause the numbers on the scale to go up and down, as does salt intake. If you are a yo-yo dieter and your weight fluctuates significantly over time, you may experience cardiovascular problems, among other issues."

But what are the other causes of weight fluctuation aside from your body doing what comes natural?

1. Menstruation

Bloat and other symptoms associated with your period will make the scale fluctuate for many women about the same time each month. So if you're on your period and are finding that your weight isn't consistent, this may be the cause.

2. Birth control

Any birth control that is hormone-based can cause weight fluctuation. According to Caleb Backe, a certified health and wellness expert for Maple Holistics., “The balance of hormones in your body is delicate and constantly fluctuating. Anything that affects a change in your hormones can lead to physical manifestations of these changes. Weight fluctuation is a normal side-effect of a hormonal IUD.”