Does Weight Loss Cause Diarrhea?
If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight, you may have noticed that you have diarrhea.
This is common with certain types of diseases, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and obesity.
But there are other causes of diarrhea, as well. Keep reading to learn more about the most common culprits of diarrhea.
In this article, you’ll learn more about the causes, treatments, and ways to prevent diarrhea.
Diabetes
When your health is compromised due to dietary changes, you may experience diarrhea.
Despite the benefits of fiber, too much can cause diarrhea and excessive gas.
Adding more fiber slowly can prevent digestive problems.
Those suffering from diarrhea should avoid fruit high in fiber.
Some vegetables are high in fiber, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, artichokes, and carrots.
If you experience diarrhea, consult your physician to determine what foods you should eat and avoid.
In addition to avoiding spicy sauces, limit your intake of sugary food.
Spicy foods, especially those with high-fat content, may cause the rectum to burn.
If you’ve been consuming coffee, tea, and sodas, cut back on them.
Avoiding caffeine may help prevent diarrhea, but it’s not the only cause.
Avoid these foods until your doctor’s visit to rule out other cause
Crohn’s disease
There are a number of tests your doctor can run to determine if your condition is a sign of Crohn’s disease.
First, your doctor will take a detailed medical history, noting any family history of Crohn’s disease, other inflammatory bowel diseases, or appendicitis.
He or she will also consider your age, height, sex, and family history.
Next, your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam and abdominal examination to see whether your symptoms are due to Crohn’s disease.
Your doctor will also look at other areas of your body, such as your eyes, joints, skin, and heartbeat.
When you suffer from Crohn’s disease, your digestive tract becomes inflamed.
The swelling and scar tissue develop in your intestines and make it difficult for food to pass through.
In addition to intestine blockage, some people develop fistulas, which are abnormal connections between the intestine and other parts of the body.
Fistulas can form when ulcers break through the intestinal wall.
The disease is caused by an abnormal response from your immune system, which produces chemicals that cause inflammation and damage to your digestive tract.
Ulcerative colitis
Although you might not realize it, ulcerative colitis can cause diarrhea, blood, and abdominal bloating.
The disease can affect the entire colon or only a portion of it.
Unlike other digestive problems, ulcerative colitis can’t be cured, but it can be controlled with medications and regular doctor’s visits.
While environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role, doctors are still not sure why you develop the disease.
The best treatment for ulcerative colitis is a well-balanced diet rich in nutrients and calories.
Patients should focus on eating protein-rich foods, especially meat.
Dairy products, such as milk and yogurt, are also good sources of calcium and vitamin D.
Additionally, patients with ulcerative colitis should avoid caffeine and alcohol, and take a multivitamin.
Supplements such as probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and aminosalicylates are available, though they may interact with certain medications.
Obesity
A recent study has found an association between obesity and chronic diarrhea.
Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to find if obesity is associated with gastrointestinal illness.
In the survey, 5,126 participants without a history of colon cancer or celiac disease answered questions on bowel health.
In addition, they were more likely to have chronic diarrhea.
Overall, the results are encouraging and suggest that there is a link between obesity and diarrhea.
This study found a strong association between obesity and chronic diarrhea, even when controlling for other variables.
In particular, those who were obese had higher chances of suffering from diarrhea than those who were normal-weight.
The results also found a significant association between severe and chronic diarrhea among obese individuals.
In fact, the researchers found that only 4.5% of normal-weight individuals experienced chronic diarrhea while 11.5% of severely obese individuals had diarrhea.
In addition, a third of respondents reported that they were obese or severely obese.
Sugar-free diets
A high sugar intake can lead to diarrhea, even with a sugar-free diet. Sugars in foods like fruit can cause diarrhea because they cause your intestines to expel water and electrolytes.
In addition, the high fructose content in fruits and vegetables can lead to loose bowel movements.
Fructose, which is naturally found in fruit, is the main culprit, and many people consume more than 80 grams of fructose a day.
This can happen even if you consume artificial sweeteners, such as sorbitol.
There are several causes of diarrhea associated with low-fat, high-protein, and sugar-free diets.
While it’s true that too much protein can cause diarrhea, a low-carb, high-protein diet can cause the opposite effect.
To avoid diarrhea during weight loss, choose your dietary fat carefully.
Some oils are known to cause diarrhea, so choosing the right type of fat is crucial.
High-fat diets
While it is true that high-fat diets can cause diarrhea during weight loss, not all cases of diarrhea are caused by the high-fat content.
For example, those with lactose intolerance may experience bloating and diarrhea.
If diarrhea persists for more than a few days, it’s important to see a doctor.
Diarrhea can lead to dehydration and nutrient malabsorption, so returning to a regular diet is important.
Diarrhea that is caused by excessive fat in the diet is known as ketoacidosis, or “ketoacidosis.”
The body is not used to consuming large amounts of fat and cannot break it down fast enough, leading to steatorrhea.
This is a form of diarrhea characterized by pale, greasy stools.
Regular diarrhea, on the other hand, is characterized by watery, loose stools.
Some people experience diarrhea within a few days, while others may start experiencing it weeks later.
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