Does constipation cause weight gain?
According to a survey conducted in 2017(1), nearly one in two French people say they suffer from adigestive disorder. Among the most cited, abdominal pain associated with abdominal meteorism (25%), followed closely by transit disorders (22%), then bloating (13%) andfood intolerances (12%). But can these intestinal disorders, and more particularly constipation, lead to weight gain?
What is intestinal transit?
This is theprocess of passing food through the intestinal tract. Food is ingested and passes into the stomach, which proceeds with part of thedigestion. Then, the food porridge (chyme) passes into the small intestine, where digestion continues thanks to the different digestive juices. It is also at this stage that the body extracts thenutrientsit needs (role of the intestinal mucosa). Then, by intestinal contraction, the residues of the bolus pass into the colon and are finally expelled via the rectum.
What about constipation?
It corresponds to aslowing of intestinal transit. The intestinal contractions are too weak, so the residues stagnate in the colon. They become dehydrated and eventually harden. Their expulsion is then complicated. Sometimes they ferment, then associated with constipationbloating. The belly is hard, big and generates a feeling of heaviness and great discomfort.
Health professionals, as well as the French National Society of Colo-Proctology, believe thatintestinal transit is normal when the evacuation of stool is done regularly, from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. We speak of constipation in case of:
- rhythm disorders of defecation – less than 3 times a week;
- over a more or less long period – chronic constipation if greater than 6 months;
- Feces hard and difficult to evacuate.
What causes constipation?
There are several.
First, women are generally more likely to be constipated than men. This is due to thetag. they undergo throughout their lives. Female hormones have an effect on the relaxation of muscles, so intestinal tone is affected. In addition, theuterus can compress the colonand thus hinder the fluidity of transit.
Then, other factors may come into play:
- can affect intestinal well-being, both through their impact on hormones on the “reaction” of intestinal cells. Isn’t it said that the belly is our “second brain” – to which it is connected by the vagal nerve;
- changes in the rhythm of life , such as travel and travel, vacations or a move can also have an impact on the elimination functions;
- plays a preponderant role, because to be expelled without harm, faeces must be moist;
- Foodobviously plays a big part. If it is deficient in dietary fiber, soluble and insoluble (which is the case for the majority of French people), it can lead to constipation;
- , which leads to a loss of intestinal tone;
- some drug treatmentscan also cause constipation. This is the case of antidepressants, antihypertensives, diuretics, iron-rich antispasmodics, morphine and its derivatives, etc.;
- certain diseasesare also implicated. We are of course thinking of pathologies directly affecting the digestive system, such as IBS or functional colopathy, but also other more surprising ones, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis,Diabetesgoldhypothyroidism .
Does Constipation Affect Weight?
. However, these extra kilos are not due to adipose storage, but:
- not expelled and accumulated in the colon;
- gases caused by fermentation of non-eliminated stools;
- probable inflammation of the large intestine;
- possible water retention due to constipation;
- to an accumulation of stagnant toxins in the intestine.
Added to this is the feeling of abdominal discomfort : the stomach is hard, painful, heavy and swollen, so that you find yourself stuck in your clothes and you feel like you have grown.
Good news : you usually get back to your ideal weightafter going to the bathroom. The body then eliminates all the waste that hindered its proper functioning.
Conversely, does weight have an influence on transit?
The answer is also Positivetag. Without making excessive generalizations, studies have observed aprevalence of constipation in overweight or obese individuals , both adults (2) and children (3)tag. It can be explained, among other things, by the predisposing factors in this population:
- taking medication to treat obesity-related disorders (high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes);
- smoking (current or past);
- diet , often low in fiber .
We also observe in the subjects a weak intestinal tone, which aggravates the risks of constipation. Finally, there could be a link between the quality of theintestinal microbiota , obesity and the motility of the intestines (4)tag. Obese people often have anIntestinal Florathat is poor in bacteria. This weakness could directly affect the ability of the intestines to contract to induce defecation. Hasproper diet , rich in fiber, prebiotics and probiotics, could not only solve the problem of constipation, but also lead to weight loss.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.