Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain?

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Weight gain can happen in many different ways. There are actually a lot of factors that can affect our weight. Most of these factors are related to physical and emotional conditions. Aside from these, our lifestyle can also affect the rate of our weight gain or loss. A sedentary lifestyle that consists of no exercise and lack of sleep can be associated with weight gain. Health problems such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome and imbalances in the blood sugar can also trigger rapid and unusual gain in weight. In addition to these, emotional problems or conditions such as stress and depression can likewise be considered a major factor. However, there are also other causes of weight gain that we may find very unusual. One of these is due to constipation. But is it really true that constipation is related to weight gain? Does constipation cause weight gain?

Identifying the Relationship between Weight Gain and Constipation

What is constipation? Constipation is defined as a type of condition where there is difficulty in emptying the bowel. If the number of bowel movements in a week is less than three, then this is also considered constipation. When a person is constipated, the stool in the bowel becomes hard since all the water in the fecal matter is already absorbed by the colon. Because of this, defecating can be very difficult and painful for some people. Although constipation is considered an abnormal condition of the colon or the bowel, it is still considered normal for most people to experience occasional constipation. However, recurring constipation is already unusual and should be immediately assessed by a physician. This can be possibly caused by other health problems, which can also lead to weight gain. Nevertheless, the relationship between weight gain and constipation is still debated up to now despite links that show the connection between the two conditions. Below are some of the justifications that help support the link that associates constipation with weight gain.

Experts say that when a person is constipated, the body will have a hard time in eliminating waste or the accumulated fecal matter. Because of this, the metabolism of the body is said to be affected. This causes a decrease in metabolism, which can result to weight gain. Another reason that helps support the link is the simple fact that waste products or materials can directly add extra weight to the body. This is because the digested food that we ate cannot pass normally through the colon but instead gets blocked in the intestine causing additional weight to the body. Aside from this, constipation can also promote water retention in the body. This can also contribute to the cause of our weight gain. These are some of the facts that back up the idea of the relationship between constipation and weight gain.

Causes of Constipation and Weight Gain

Just like what is discussed above, constipation and the weight gain effect of it can be due to several factors. Constipation can be a result from dehydration or the lack of fluids in the body. This condition can cause the fecal matter to harden, which can be very difficult to expel despite the peristaltic movements provided by the large intestine. Other factors that can lead to constipation are the intake of certain medications and other physical or health conditions like intestinal problems, IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, lack of physical activities and the sudden change in lifestyle. The intake of certain foods can also be associated with this kind of bowel problem as well as the insufficiency of fiber in the diet.

It is very important for us to determine or identify the main cause of our constipation. This is one of the effective ways for us to help treat this kind of condition. If in case it is triggered by any medical problem or complication, it is important to treat the main cause in order to prevent the constipation from worsening. However, changes in the diet and lifestyle is already enough and proven effective to help relieve constipation.

Effective Ways to Help Relieve Constipation and Prevent Weight Gain

If there are a number of causes that can lead to constipation, there are also several ways that we can do in order to prevent or treat it. Constipation and weight gain can be prevented by resorting to lifestyle modification such as doing regular exercises, drinking a lot of fluids or increasing daily fluid intake, including fiber rich foods in the diet and avoiding sedentary activities. Overeating must also be avoided to prevent weight gain and problems in the processes of the colon. The consumption of high caffeine can also trigger constipation and must be minimizes as soon as possible. We can also rely of colon cleansing procedures that can help empty the colon, which is a good remedy for constipation. Nevertheless, the use of laxatives and other stool softening agents must be minimized or used as prescribed only by the physician since this can eventually worsen the situation in the long run. This can cause the body to depend so much on these pharmacologic agents that any break in the regular intake of these drugs can already cause problems in the colon. This is the reason why it is always better to adapt the natural remedies in relieving constipation in order for the body not to become overly dependent in combating constipation.