Have you noticed weight gain overnight, accompanied by a bloated belly, puffy face, or swollen fingers? Chances are that you’ve put on some “water weight”. A common phenomenon, water weight is usually not something to be too worried about. It could be demotivating though⁠—especially on days when your pants feel more snug or your weighing scale seems to have betrayed you. But the good news is you can recognize, manage, and prevent it.

Water weight refers to the weight gained by our bodies when it retains fluids (mostly water). This retention of fluids also goes by the medical name “edema”. Water makes up around 50–65% of the human anatomy, a level crucial to keep us functioning at our best. Our body maintains a balance of water, sodium, and electrolytes in order to function at its optimum. When we’re dehydrated, it attempts to conserve water by retaining all the fluids it can. This retention then translates to water weight.