• thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Or conclude that they were accumulating mass some other way, such as

    • Accumulating water
    • Being severely constipated
    • Some obscure bone disease that causes them to accumulate absurd amounts of minerals

    My bet would be on (1) and/or (2).

    • SSTF@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Accumulating water

      Is there a condition that accumulates water like that where weight goes up consistently over a long period of time?

      • evasive_chimpanzee@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        In addition to failing kidneys, stuff that messes with the lymphatic system. Everyone’s cells and bloodstream is slightly leaky, and whatever leaks out gets picked up by the lymphatic system, filtered through lymph nodes, and returned to the circulatory system. A break in that chain due to injury/disease can cause fluid to accumulate upstream. Look up elephantitis.

        Also, liver/heart failure can create ascites, which is fluid accumulation inside the abdomen (looks more like pregnancy belly than obesity belly).

        Similarly, malnutrition in kids in poor areas often results in kwashiorkor, which makes them have big bellies but really skinny arms and legs. Its basically a protein deficiency from eating only corn or whatever.