Weight Gain
It is important not to go on a diet right away if you notice weight gain. Instead, tell your doctor so you can find out what may be causing this change. Sometimes, weight gain occurs because certain anticancer drugs can cause your body to retain excess fluid. This condition is called edema. The weight gain comes from the extra water. If this is the case, your doctor may ask you to talk with a registered dietitian for guidelines on limiting the amount of salt you eat. This is important because salt causes your body to hold extra water. Your doctor may also want to prescribe a diuretic. This is a medication that causes your body to get rid of excess fluid.
Weight gain may also be the result of increased appetite and eating extra food and calories. If this is the case and you want to stop gaining weight, here are some tips that can help:
- Put an emphasis on eating fruits, vegetables, and breads and cereals
- Choose lean meats (lean beef or pork trimmed of fat, chicken without skin) and low-fat dairy products (skim or 1% milk, light yogurt).
- Cut back on added butter, mayonnaise, sweets, and other extras
- Choose low-fat and low-calorie cooking methods (broiling, steaming)
- Avoid eating high-calorie snacks between meals
- If you feel up to it, increase the amount of exercise you get.
You can talk to a registered dietitian for more guidance.
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