It can be alarming when you stand on the scale and see that your weight has gone up, despite eating well and exercising. There are many different reasons for weight gain, but if you are currently constipated, you may wonder, “Does constipation cause weight gain?” This article will take a closer look at constipation and will answer that question.
A Closer Look at Constipation
Before looking at the question, “Does constipation cause weight gain?”, it is important to understand what constipation is.
Constipation is when you experience infrequent bowel movements. This generally means you’re only able to poop three times or fewer per week [1]. This can be accompanied by bloating, cramping, and a general feeling of discomfort. These bowel movements can be hard to pass, small, hard, and dry [2].
Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain?
In simple form, yes, constipation can cause weight gain, but not in the way you may think.
When you stand on a scale, your weight is the total of your body mass. This includes bodily fluids, bones, muscle, fat, and lastly, the contents of your gut.
This could be measured as extra weight due to retained poop sitting in your large intestine. Constipation also causes other changes in your body. There is a link between constipation, water retention, and bloating. Both of these symptoms can contribute to weight changes.
Constipation, including the effects of water retention and bloating, may cause your weight to increase, and how much it increases depends on the severity of the constipation. However, this weight is not related to muscle or fat; it is caused by constipation and will clear once you have passed the stool.
If you are currently experiencing constipation and feeling anxious about your weight, focus on taking steps to relieve your constipation first and try not to weigh yourself when you are constipated, as it isn’t accurate. Try to give yourself grace during this period.
Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain Permanently?
No, this kind of weight gain is temporary. Since the weight gain caused by constipation is due to factors that eventually clear, the weight gain is temporary and is not true weight gain.
Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain Because of A Sluggish Metabolism?
A sluggish, or slow, metabolism is the rate at which you burn energy, and if it is slow, it can result in constipation. If you are experiencing constipation because of a sluggish metabolism, you may find that your constipation is more chronic than a once-off occurrence.
However, constipation, while it may make you feel uncomfortable, does not affect your metabolism.
Can Bloating Make You Weigh More?
Bloating, while it is different from constipation, can also create the illusion that you have gained weight.
Bloating is a feeling of fullness caused by distention of your intestines with either gas or fluid. This can make you feel uncomfortable, and because it fills your gut with either gas or fluid, it can cause your weight to increase.
However, this is similar to weight gain from constipation, as it is the weight of the gas or fluid, and will clear when the bloating clears. It is also not related to fat or muscle.
What Causes Constipation?
While there are many potential causes for digestive issues that can lead to constipation, the most common causes are [1]:
- Lack of fiber
- A diet high in refined carbohydrates and sugars
- Dehydration
- Food sensitivities
- Lack of exercise
- Medications
- Ignoring the urge to poop
Chronic Stress and Constipation
Another factor that can contribute to constipation is chronic stress. Your body handles short-term stress through the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response System, a six-circuit system of related organs. In short-term stress, your adrenal glands, part of the NEM system, are stimulated to produce stress hormones such as cortisol. When the stress clears, the cortisol levels reduce.
In long-term stress, however, the adrenal glands are constantly stimulated. Eventually, this depletes the adrenal glands and causes low levels of cortisol. This causes imbalances within the NEM system and can cause Adrenal Fatigue. This is a condition where the body is unable to keep up with long-term stress, resulting in various symptoms.
Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue will depend on where the imbalance in the NEM system is occurring. One circuit in the NEM system, the Detoxification circuit, is responsible for removing toxins, chemical stressors, and waste products. Some symptoms of an imbalance in this system are:
- Exaggerated responses to medications
- Sensitivity to foods and supplements
- Insomnia
- Brain fog
- Bloating
- Constipation
Additionally, some of the symptoms of Detoxification circuit imbalances, such as food sensitivities, may also cause constipation.
Does Constipation Cause Weight Gain: What to Do About It
Constipation can be frustrating, but there are some remedies that may help.
Diet
Nutrition is an important aspect. Some nutritional recommendations that may help include [3]:
- Eating foods rich in fiber, such as:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Unrefined carbohydrates
- Reducing your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates
- Drinking water every day
Supplements
Supplementation can also come in handy. Magnesium is a mineral that can act as a laxative by helping to draw water into your intestines and soften the stool [3]. This may help you pass a bowel movement, thus helping to ease constipation. While there are foods naturally rich in magnesium, a magnesium supplement can help you receive an optimal dose of magnesium.
Mag Four by Dr. Lam is a magnesium supplement that contains 450 mg of magnesium in four different forms. Magnesium also helps reduce stress and anxiety, which can affect the functioning of your gut and contribute to constipation. This may help to relieve constipation in multiple ways.
Address Food Sensitivities
Food sensitivities can also contribute to gut problems and weight gain, as they can increase constipation and bloating. Reducing or avoiding foods that you are sensitive to is generally the best way to avoid gut symptoms like constipation.
However, avoiding multiple foods may be difficult to sustain, or you may not know which food you are sensitive to. In some cases, supplemental digestive enzymes may help provide extra enzymes to help you digest your food. This may help improve digestion and reduce constipation and bloating.
Diazyme by Dr. Lam provides a range of different digestive enzymes, as well as natural enzymes that are found in foods such as papain and bromelain. The wide variety of enzymes may help to ease many different food sensitivities.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
While constipation is common, you should see your healthcare provider right away if you experience the following [2]:
- Bleeding from your rectum
- Blood in your stool
- Constant pain
- Inability to pass gas
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Losing weight without trying to
Takeaway
The question of “Does constipation cause weight gain?” is a common concern for people trying to lose weight. However, it is not true weight gain and will clear once you have had a bowel movement.
If you are currently experiencing constipation, there are several strategies you can try. Additionally, it is worth checking on your stress levels. If you are currently experiencing Adrenal Fatigue and would like a solution to help you recover, we would love to walk alongside you. At Lam Clinic, our focus is on helping you find balance and feel like yourself again, one step at a time.
