One final tip that may surprise you is that what we're taking over the counter, and even what we're prescribed, can have a drastic impact on our bodies.
"Antihistamines found in allergy medicines are not so bad if taken once in a while," Dr. Mahchineni said, "but Zyrtec (Cetirizine), Allegra, and Benadryl have been known to cause weight gain, in ranges of 10 to 20 pounds, and should only be used if absolutely necessary."
The more sedating the medicine, the more likely it is to cause increased appetite and weight gain, he said.
There are also many prescription medicines that may cause weight gain, like those prescribed for sleep like Ambien, as well as for blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health issues.
"I had a patient who came to see me whose initial weight was 130 pounds with a BMI of 22," Dr. Machineni said. "After six years of being on different psychiatric medications, she gained 150 pounds, entirely because of the medicines. While this kind of thing doesn't happen for everyone, it does happen."
Dr. Machineni recommended talking with your doctor if you notice weight gain within three to four months of taking new medications. He noted it's not necessarily common for primary care physicians to be aware of weight gain potential unless they specially look it up for a particular medicine.