The Surprising Link Between Lingering Illness and Weight Gain

You’ve recovered from the initial virus. You’re no longer contagious. But months (and in some cases, years) later, something still feels off—your energy’s shot, your brain’s foggy, and to top it off, your clothes are fitting a little tighter than they used to. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Many people are discovering that even after recovering from covid, their bodies are still playing catch-up. After the pandemic, a concerning phenomenon emerged: Long Covid, a condition where individuals experience lingering symptoms long after the acute phase of the illness passed. One of the more unexpected effects? Weight gain. And it’s not always as simple as eating more or moving less.

Dr. Anju Mathur, founder of Angel Longevity Medical Center in Los Angeles, has seen this pattern play out again and again.

“Post-viral weight gain is rarely just about diet or willpower,” she explains. “It’s often a reflection of deeper imbalances—low energy, hormonal disruption, inflammation, and emotional stress that hasn’t fully cleared.”

Why You Might Be Gaining Weight After Illness

Recovering from a serious virus doesn’t always mean you’re back to baseline. In fact, for many people, the healing process takes months—and during that time, the body can react in surprising ways.

Energy is low, so movement slows down.
Fatigue and muscle weakness are common after-effects that make physical activity feel like a chore. Even daily tasks can feel draining, which means fewer calories burned throughout the day.

You might be eating differently—and not by choice.
Changes in taste or smell can throw off your appetite. Add in stress or poor sleep, and cravings for comfort foods can skyrocket. It’s easy to reach for sugary or salty snacks when your body and mind are both under pressure.

Your metabolism might be out of sync.
Some individuals experience long-term inflammation, blood sugar instability, or hormonal shifts that can lead to weight gain—even if their eating habits haven’t changed much.

What You Can Do About It

Dr. Mathur encourages people to take a compassionate, whole-body approach when navigating post-illness weight gain. “When we start asking what our body is trying to tell us, that’s where real healing begins.”

Here are a few ways to gently support your recovery:

• Ease back into movement. You don’t need to jump into a gym routine. Start small—gentle walks, stretching, restorative yoga—and build from there.

• Eat to nourish, not restrict. Focus on whole, unprocessed foods that reduce inflammation and support your gut and immune health. Think leafy greens, healthy fats, lean proteins, and colorful vegetables.

• Get expert support. Working with a practitioner trained in functional or integrative medicine can help uncover the root causes of persistent symptoms—whether hormonal, immune-related, or metabolic.

At Angel Longevity Medical Center, Dr. Mathur’s team offers personalized recovery plans to help patients regain balance. “It’s not about crash diets or quick fixes. Functional Medicine is about helping the body find its rhythm again,” she says.

If you’ve noticed stubborn weight gain after a tough illness, know that you’re not imagining it—and you’re not alone. Your body may still be in repair mode, and giving it the right support can make all the difference.