Big bones, genetics, thyroid problems. All three are often given as reasons for unexplained weight gain, or for being overweight. Often these three are cruelly dismissed by others as “excuses†and that the real reason a person is overweight is simply because they are too lazy or too greedy, or both. Of course, big bones do not cause the sort of fat you can grab hold of and wiggle about, and the link between genetics and obesity is not yet proven. However, thyroid problems certainly are real, and one symptom of an under-active thyroid gland is unexplained weight gain. In a country that has 65% of its population overweight or obese, it is time to investigate whether thyroid problems might be a bigger cause than once thought.