Priya Sharma Priya Sharma Asked 8 months ago

Does water retention cause weight gain?

Since last few months, I've been feeling very bloated, especially around my stomach and ankles. My weight scale also shows higher numbers sometimes, even if I feel like I haven't eaten much. Could this be because of water retention, and does that actually make you gain weight?

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8 answers

Meenakshi Sundaram Meenakshi Sundaram Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago
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Yes, it absolutely shows up on the scale. My daughter had this sudden weight jump last month and we got so worried, but the doctor explained it was just fluid retention. We just cut down her salt intake and made sure she drank enough water, and her weight went back to normal in a week.

Rohan Deshmukh Rohan Deshmukh Joined Feb 2026 8 months ago

Honestly, even I get so stressed when the scale suddenly shows 2 kgs extra in just one day. It actually makes you feel very heavy and bloated, but don't panic, it is usually just water weight. Just try to track if you had very salty food last night, as that always triggers it for me.

Kabir Thapar Kabir Thapar Joined Jan 2026 8 months ago

Yes, water retention can easily add a couple of kilos of temporary weight. If your doctor has cleared you for exercise, a simple 30-minute brisk walk daily helps sweat out the excess sodium and improves blood circulation. Staying active is the easiest way to keep your fluid levels balanced.

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Vikram Rathore Vikram Rathore Joined Mar 2026 8 months ago

I can only speak from my own experience, but whenever I eat out a lot, my face and fingers swell up and the scale goes up. For me, it is always due to excessive sodium in restaurant food holding onto water. Once I switch back to simple ghar ka khana for three days, the weight drops right back down.

Harish Johar Harish Johar Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

Please don't ignore sudden water retention and weight gain like I did. I kept thinking it was just random bloating, but it turned out to be an underlying kidney issue that got worse because of my delay. Go get a proper blood test and consult a doctor to find the real root cause.

Shreya Ghoshal Shreya Ghoshal Joined Apr 2026 6 months ago

I completely understand how scary it feels to see your weight shoot up overnight. I used to cry thinking my diet was failing, but learning about water weight really helped calm my anxiety. It is just fluid, not fat, so please be gentle with yourself and give your body a few days to balance out.

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Ananya Sen Ananya Sen Joined May 2026 5 months ago

I literally went through this last week where my clothes felt super tight all of a sudden. I thought I gained fat, but it was just water retention because of my monthly cycle. I drank warm ginger water and kept my feet elevated for a bit, and the puffiness and extra weight cleared up so fast.

Savitri Devi Savitri Devi Joined Jun 2026 5 months ago

Drinking barley water or warm fennel tea daily helps flush out this extra water weight naturally. However, if you notice your ankles are swelling up very badly or you feel breathless, please go to a doctor. Serious water retention can sometimes be a sign of heart or kidney issues, so don't ignore it.

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