Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain? The Link Explained
0
1838
3 min
Constipation causes a lot of discomfort, especially when you are starting to practice a healthy lifestyle.
It seems that the battle to free your bowels ends up slowing down the weight loss process and becomes another reason to give up.
But, there’s a lot you can do to improve this condition. At Health Insider, we know that health is a priority, and that’s why we’ve stepped up to the task of bringing you up-to-date information.
Say goodbye to pain and bloating, and welcome wellness with our tips for improving constipation quickly.
The Main Causes of Constipation
Sedentary lifestyle
Regular exercise is important not only to be in good shape but also to prevent constipation. It has been demonstrated that physical activity increases bowel movements, thus favoring evacuation.
Advertisement
Dehydration
Inadequate fluid intake has a direct impact on the consistency and volume of stool, which slows its passage through the intestine.
Gut microbiota imbalances
The microbiota is the population of good bacteria that inhabit your gut. When this is affected by poor dietary habits, it can cause constipation.
Thyroid malfunction
Dysfunction of the thyroid gland can affect bowel movements. This causes intestinal transit to become stagnant and allows pathogenic bacteria to overgrow.
Unhealthy diet
Excess junk food can affect the gut in many ways. The overload of harmful chemicals and their effect on the gut microbiota can cause constipation. In addition, a diet low in fiber due to a lack of vegetables and fruits is one of the most common causes of this condition.
Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain?
Yes. Unfortunately, constipation is one more of the problems that add to the list of impediments to weight loss. As if it wasn’t difficult enough already, right?
However, the severity of this obstacle depends on the cause of constipation. Having trouble going to the bathroom is not going to doom you forever.
A gut full of waste causes your body to prioritize this problem first before activating fat burning. In other words, your body decides that it’s more important at this point to detoxify you than to lose a few pounds of its fat reserves.
Your body’s instinct will always be to preserve health, and all efforts will be directed at improving gut health. If your body does this naturally, it is essential that you actively seek a solution to help it.
Luckily, there are many ways to solve it. From home remedies and exercise to treatments your doctor will prescribe for you.
Constipation and Weight Gain: How to Prevent It?
You can start today to improve your digestive health with some of these tips:
#1 Exercise
Physical activity such as running or long walks is a great ally to promote bowel movements. In addition, the law of gravity has a lot to do here! Everything that’s up has to come down!
#2 Green smoothies
Green juices are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and lots of fiber! Start drinking them daily, and you’ll notice a big difference in your abdomen, skin, and energy levels.
A Word From our RD
Constipation affects people’s lives in different ways, depending on its severity. It may be accompanied by abdominal pain and hemorrhoids due to straining during bowel movements.
Your body weight can be affected by constipation, so the cause of this condition should be sought and resolved.
In general, lifestyle modification is enough to show improvement in a short time. However, more complex conditions that cause chronic constipation, such as hypothyroidism or irritable bowel syndrome, should be treated by specialists.
Diet is a very important factor as it determines the content of the digestive tract. Include fiber, water, probiotics, good fats, and whole-grain carbohydrates. All these elements are essential to ensure bowel movements and overall health.
Conclusion
Relieving constipation is essential if you want to lose weight fast. When the body flushes out its waste thanks to regular bowel movements, it is able to burn fat more effectively.
If you have spent a lot of time following a poor diet, remember that certain foods and drinks such as soda, refined flours, and high sugar products can negatively affect your gut bacteria.
It is always advisable to follow a healthy diet, no matter how constipated you are, that can improve your bowel habits. However, if you have a chronic disease, you should seek professional medical advice.
Edibel Quintero is a medical doctor who graduated in 2013 from the University of Zulia and has been working in her profession since then. She specializes in obesity and nutrition, physical rehabilitation, sports massage and post-operative rehabilitation. Edibel's goal is to help people live healthier lives by educating them about food, exercise, mental wellness and other lifestyle choices that can improve their quality of life.
Comments (0)