Bloating and weight gain, when they occur together, are most often caused by too much sodium in the diet. Eating too much salt on a daily basis can cause one to retain water, which quickly leads to bloating and weight gain. Fortunately, weight gain caused by a high sodium diet is one of the easiest types of weight to lose, simply by making some dietary changes and reading labels when purchasing foods in the grocery store.

There are a few other medical issues that can cause bloating and weight gain; these include issues with the gallbladder, as well as a few different medications. Birth control pills can easily cause weight gain and bloating as well. Finally, bloating and weight gain are common occurrences when one has premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. Bloating by itself is a temporary condition, and it should resolve fairly quickly. If it does not, a visit to the doctor may be in order to rule out any medical causes.

Primarily, however, the leading cause of bloating and weight gain is a diet that is high in salt, leading to water retention as well as issues such as high blood pressure. Salt is found in many prepackaged and prepared foods, and there is often a great deal of salt in restaurant meals as well. Even if one does not add extra salt to meals, it is hidden in many foods. Microwave dinners, for example, are loaded with salt, as are canned vegetables and other foods. Sometimes, bloating may also be caused by eating foods high in fiber, but this should not usually cause weight gain.

When one cuts back on salt and starts drinking more water, it is possible to lose weight from water retention fairly quickly. Sometimes, switching a birth control prescription to a different brand or formulation of pill can help with bloating and weight gain as well; there are a number of different birth control pill manufacturers, and it can take some trial and error before finding one that works well without causing unpleasant side effects.

Changing the diet and increasing the amount of exercise that one does every day are the best ways to prevent bloating and weight gain. Make note if any specific foods seem to cause bloating; soda, for example, often causes bloating, and is fairly high in sodium as well. Water or iced tea is a better beverage choice. If the weight gain is caused by another medication, a doctor may be able to prescribe a different medication, or offer suggestions as to how to offset the unpleasant side effects.