Your favorite pair of pants once zipped easily, but lately you can barely get them over your hips. Sound familiar? Most adults experience the dreaded “weight creep,” where the numbers on the scale gradually increase — and before you know it, you’re 10 pounds heavier.

But it’s not inevitable. Simply by making a few gradual lifestyle changes, experts say, you can stop gaining weight and even drop some pounds. There are several reasons most adults gradually gain weight. First, as you get older, your body changes. Your body slows down with each passing decade. And that’s not all.

How to Stop Gaining Weight