Why some women gain weight even if they eat just once a day: Doctor explains

While skincare, weight management, and mental health come easily to women in their youth, a lot of them forget these aspects of their life or even de-prioritise them over time. It's often all thanks to the growing responsibilities both on the home front and in professional life. Dr Marie Simon, a gynaecologist at Amrita Urban Health Centre in Kaloor, Ernakulam, says that many women often neglect eating on time or consuming the right kinds of foods, which in turn affects their health. "Many women come to me saying that they eat only once a day but can't lose weight. Upon inquiring about their eating pattern and timings, the real reasons get revealed," the doctor says. 

What goes wrong?
Apparently, as household duties followed by office work eat into their time, many women sideline breakfast and lunch, the doctor says. "After practically starving the whole day, they eat a big meal at night! And what's more, they go on to sleep shortly after the meals. This forces the body to be in starvation mode for most of the day and even gets used to it," says Dr Marie. Eventually, it results in gastric problems, acidity, heartburn, ulcer and digestive problems and does not give any weight loss benefits either, she explains. 

How to eat to lose weight?
Rather than reducing the number of times one eats, the right approach is to eat six small meals a day, Dr Marie says. "I would call them 'half' meals. For example, if you are too busy in the morning to have something, have at least one idli alongside packing food for your family members. Two hours later, have one more. Basically, avoid pushing the body into starvation mode and have small meals to keep oneself nourished," she explains. The doctor also warns against going on 'only salad' diets. "Our digestive system is not built to have just raw veggies alone. Not only will it cause gas due to excessive fibre, but it will also result in deficiencies. We also need complex carbs from sources like rice and chapathi, protein, vitamins and minerals. Therefore, ensure that the diet is balanced, rather than focusing solely on losing weight," she says.