Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNormal PatternsContributing FactorsWeighing YourselfOther Tracking Methods
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Normal Patterns
Contributing Factors
Weighing Yourself
Other Tracking Methods
It’s normal for your weight to go up and down a little each day. Water retention, hormones, medications, what you eat, and how active you are can all contribute to weight fluctuation. You might notice these changes throughout the day or during certain times, such as menstruation or on weekends or holidays.While minor changes usually are not a big deal, knowing what’s typical can help you spot significant changes.
Normal Weight Fluctuation Patterns
Daily weight fluctuations can range 2 to 4 pounds in either direction.The time of day you weigh yourself also matters. Morning weigh-ins tend to show lower numbers since your body loses water overnight through breathing and sweating.
What Plays a Part in Daily Fluctuations?
Water Retention
Conversely, some herbs and foods act asnatural diuretics, causing you to excrete (lose) more water and lose weight.
Food Intake and Digestion
After eating, your weight might go up as your body digests food, especially if you eat more carbs. The food and drinks in your system can also add a little weight. Digestion and water loss typically bring your weight back down. However, things likeconstipationcan increase weight due to waste buildup.
Physical Activity
When you arephysically active and sweat, you lose water, which can temporarily drop your weight. However, after intense exercise, your muscles might also hold onto extra water as they heal, which can cause your weight to go up a little.
When you start a new diet or exercise plan, your body uses stored energy known asglycogen. Your body releases water as it burns glycogen, leading to a quick drop in weight at the beginning of a diet or exercise plan.
Temperature
In hot weather, your body sweats more, which can result in a drop in weight as you lose water through sweat. In cooler temperatures, your body retains more water since it doesn’t sweat as much, causing slight weight increases.
Hormonal Changes
For people who get periods, weight often increases before or during their period due tohormone changes. Menopause, when periods permanently stop, and perimenopause, the time leading up to it, can also cause the body to store more fat and slow down metabolism. The following gynecological conditions can also affect hormones:
In people assigned male at birth, testosterone levels naturally decline with age, which can lead to more belly fat and less muscle.
Stress
Sleep
Not getting enough sleep can increase hunger hormones, making you crave more food and potentiallygain weight. On the other hand, getting adequate sleep helps balance hormones, reduces stress, and may prevent your body from holding onto extra water weight.
Alcohol Intake
Alcohol can cause dehydration, temporarily lowering your weight. However, it can also lead to water retention, especially when consumed with salty foods. Plus, alcohol is high in calories and can increase appetite, leading to a higher calorie intake.This often results in short-term weight fluctuations.
Medications
Illness
Dehydration from fever, vomiting, or diarrhea can result in weight loss. However, conditions like heart or kidney failure may cause fluid build-up and weight gain. People with these illnesses should alert their provider if theygainmore than 2–3 pounds in a day or over 5 pounds in a week. Other indicators of worsening fluid overload include shortness of breath, a racing heart, leg or feet swelling, and confusion.
Seasonal, Weekend, and Holiday Effects
Weekends and holidays are associated with increased eating and drinking, which can cause temporary weight gain. While some people use weekends for extra exercise, others might be less active, leading to short-term weight changes. Many people weigh more on weekends and less during the week when routines are more regular.
Seasonal changes can also affect weight. Your body may hold onto more water in colder months, while summer heat can cause slight weight loss through sweating. Holidays centered around meals often lead to weight gains of about 1–2.2 pounds.
Seasonal Weight Fluctuations in the United StatesHere’s how each season can impact weight:Spring: Weight tends to stabilize as outdoor activities increase.Summer: Many people lose weight due to increased activity and sweating, though vacations may cause short-term gains.Fall: New routines with the school year can lead to minor weight changes as schedules adjust.Winter: Weight gain is typical due to reduced physical activity.
Seasonal Weight Fluctuations in the United States
Here’s how each season can impact weight:Spring: Weight tends to stabilize as outdoor activities increase.Summer: Many people lose weight due to increased activity and sweating, though vacations may cause short-term gains.Fall: New routines with the school year can lead to minor weight changes as schedules adjust.Winter: Weight gain is typical due to reduced physical activity.
Here’s how each season can impact weight:
When and How to Weigh Yourself
When and how you weigh yourself can make a difference. Here are some tips to track your weight accurately:
A Word From VerywellExperiencing a weight gain or loss of more than 5% of their body weight over six to 12 months without an apparent reason may warrant a professional evaluation. Such weight changes can sometimes signal underlying health issues, even in the absence of known health concerns.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD
A Word From Verywell
Experiencing a weight gain or loss of more than 5% of their body weight over six to 12 months without an apparent reason may warrant a professional evaluation. Such weight changes can sometimes signal underlying health issues, even in the absence of known health concerns.—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD
Experiencing a weight gain or loss of more than 5% of their body weight over six to 12 months without an apparent reason may warrant a professional evaluation. Such weight changes can sometimes signal underlying health issues, even in the absence of known health concerns.
—MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD
Other Useful Ways to Track Your Body Weight
Tracking your weight over time can give you a clearer picture of your normal fluctuations, helping you make adjustments when needed without getting caught up in daily changes. To gain a more complete picture of your progress, you can also try using other methods alongside the scale, such as:
Summary
Daily weight changes are expected, usually between 2 to 4 pounds in either direction. Water retention, digestion, exercise, temperature, hormones, medications, and illness can cause these changes. Knowing what’s typical can help you spot changes that might need attention.
Keeping track of your weight, waist size, body fat percentage, and how your clothes fit gives you a clearer picture of your health. The goal isn’t to stop temporary, minor weight fluctuations but to understand patterns and keep healthy habits.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Turicchi J, O’Driscoll R, Horgan G, et al.Weekly, seasonal and holiday body weight fluctuation patterns among individuals engaged in a European multi-centre behavioural weight loss maintenance intervention.PLoS One. 2020;15(4):e0232152. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232152.Bhutani S, Kahn E, Tasali E, Schoeller DA.Composition of two-week change in body weight under unrestricted free-living conditions.Physiol Rep. 2017;5(13):e13336. doi:10.14814/phy2.13336Rolnik A, Olas B.The plants of the Asteraceae family as agents in the protection of human health.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(6):3009. doi:10.3390/ijms22063009Dinsdale NL, Crespi BJ.Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders.Evol Appl. 2021;14(7):1693-1715. doi:10.1111/eva.13244Kumar R, Rizvi MR, Saraswat S.Obesity and stress: a contingent paralysis.Int J Prev Med.2022;13:95. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_427_20Papatriantafyllou E, Efthymiou D, Zoumbaneas E, Popescu CA, Vassilopoulou E.Sleep deprivation: effects on weight loss and weight loss maintenance.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1549. doi:10.3390/nu14081549Fazzino TL, Forbush K, Sullivan D, Befort CA.A prospective study of alcohol use patterns and short-term weight change in college freshmen.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(5):1016-1026. doi:10.1111/acer.14025Morgan C, Costello RE, Ray DW, Dixon WG.How do glucocorticoids used in rheumatic disease affect body weight? A narrative review of the evidence.Arthritis Care Res. 2020;72(4):489-497. doi:10.1002/acr.23879American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.Fahey MC, Klesges RC, Kocak M, Talcott GW, Krukowski RA.Seasonal fluctuations in weight and self-weighing behavior among adults in a behavioral weight loss intervention.Eat Weight Disord. 2020;25(4):921-928. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00707-7
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Turicchi J, O’Driscoll R, Horgan G, et al.Weekly, seasonal and holiday body weight fluctuation patterns among individuals engaged in a European multi-centre behavioural weight loss maintenance intervention.PLoS One. 2020;15(4):e0232152. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232152.Bhutani S, Kahn E, Tasali E, Schoeller DA.Composition of two-week change in body weight under unrestricted free-living conditions.Physiol Rep. 2017;5(13):e13336. doi:10.14814/phy2.13336Rolnik A, Olas B.The plants of the Asteraceae family as agents in the protection of human health.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(6):3009. doi:10.3390/ijms22063009Dinsdale NL, Crespi BJ.Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders.Evol Appl. 2021;14(7):1693-1715. doi:10.1111/eva.13244Kumar R, Rizvi MR, Saraswat S.Obesity and stress: a contingent paralysis.Int J Prev Med.2022;13:95. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_427_20Papatriantafyllou E, Efthymiou D, Zoumbaneas E, Popescu CA, Vassilopoulou E.Sleep deprivation: effects on weight loss and weight loss maintenance.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1549. doi:10.3390/nu14081549Fazzino TL, Forbush K, Sullivan D, Befort CA.A prospective study of alcohol use patterns and short-term weight change in college freshmen.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(5):1016-1026. doi:10.1111/acer.14025Morgan C, Costello RE, Ray DW, Dixon WG.How do glucocorticoids used in rheumatic disease affect body weight? A narrative review of the evidence.Arthritis Care Res. 2020;72(4):489-497. doi:10.1002/acr.23879American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.Fahey MC, Klesges RC, Kocak M, Talcott GW, Krukowski RA.Seasonal fluctuations in weight and self-weighing behavior among adults in a behavioral weight loss intervention.Eat Weight Disord. 2020;25(4):921-928. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00707-7
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Turicchi J, O’Driscoll R, Horgan G, et al.Weekly, seasonal and holiday body weight fluctuation patterns among individuals engaged in a European multi-centre behavioural weight loss maintenance intervention.PLoS One. 2020;15(4):e0232152. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232152.Bhutani S, Kahn E, Tasali E, Schoeller DA.Composition of two-week change in body weight under unrestricted free-living conditions.Physiol Rep. 2017;5(13):e13336. doi:10.14814/phy2.13336Rolnik A, Olas B.The plants of the Asteraceae family as agents in the protection of human health.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(6):3009. doi:10.3390/ijms22063009Dinsdale NL, Crespi BJ.Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders.Evol Appl. 2021;14(7):1693-1715. doi:10.1111/eva.13244Kumar R, Rizvi MR, Saraswat S.Obesity and stress: a contingent paralysis.Int J Prev Med.2022;13:95. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_427_20Papatriantafyllou E, Efthymiou D, Zoumbaneas E, Popescu CA, Vassilopoulou E.Sleep deprivation: effects on weight loss and weight loss maintenance.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1549. doi:10.3390/nu14081549Fazzino TL, Forbush K, Sullivan D, Befort CA.A prospective study of alcohol use patterns and short-term weight change in college freshmen.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(5):1016-1026. doi:10.1111/acer.14025Morgan C, Costello RE, Ray DW, Dixon WG.How do glucocorticoids used in rheumatic disease affect body weight? A narrative review of the evidence.Arthritis Care Res. 2020;72(4):489-497. doi:10.1002/acr.23879American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.Fahey MC, Klesges RC, Kocak M, Talcott GW, Krukowski RA.Seasonal fluctuations in weight and self-weighing behavior among adults in a behavioral weight loss intervention.Eat Weight Disord. 2020;25(4):921-928. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00707-7
Turicchi J, O’Driscoll R, Horgan G, et al.Weekly, seasonal and holiday body weight fluctuation patterns among individuals engaged in a European multi-centre behavioural weight loss maintenance intervention.PLoS One. 2020;15(4):e0232152. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232152.
Bhutani S, Kahn E, Tasali E, Schoeller DA.Composition of two-week change in body weight under unrestricted free-living conditions.Physiol Rep. 2017;5(13):e13336. doi:10.14814/phy2.13336
Rolnik A, Olas B.The plants of the Asteraceae family as agents in the protection of human health.Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(6):3009. doi:10.3390/ijms22063009
Dinsdale NL, Crespi BJ.Endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome are diametric disorders.Evol Appl. 2021;14(7):1693-1715. doi:10.1111/eva.13244
Kumar R, Rizvi MR, Saraswat S.Obesity and stress: a contingent paralysis.Int J Prev Med.2022;13:95. doi:10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_427_20
Papatriantafyllou E, Efthymiou D, Zoumbaneas E, Popescu CA, Vassilopoulou E.Sleep deprivation: effects on weight loss and weight loss maintenance.Nutrients. 2022;14(8):1549. doi:10.3390/nu14081549
Fazzino TL, Forbush K, Sullivan D, Befort CA.A prospective study of alcohol use patterns and short-term weight change in college freshmen.Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2019;43(5):1016-1026. doi:10.1111/acer.14025
Morgan C, Costello RE, Ray DW, Dixon WG.How do glucocorticoids used in rheumatic disease affect body weight? A narrative review of the evidence.Arthritis Care Res. 2020;72(4):489-497. doi:10.1002/acr.23879
American Heart Association.Managing heart failure symptoms.
Fahey MC, Klesges RC, Kocak M, Talcott GW, Krukowski RA.Seasonal fluctuations in weight and self-weighing behavior among adults in a behavioral weight loss intervention.Eat Weight Disord. 2020;25(4):921-928. doi:10.1007/s40519-019-00707-7
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