IBS Overweight
If you have been diagnosed with IBS and are carrying excess weight around, there is every chance that losing a bit of weight and making some dietary and lifestyle changes will be enough to significantly improve your symptoms of IBS and your physical and mental health too.
People who are overweight will often find that their digestive system is a bit sluggish, which can lead to all sorts of digestive problems, including constipation. Anything that will help the digestive system process food more efficiently is bound to make a difference to how your IBS affects you. No two people with experience IBS in the same way and the symptoms will vary from person to person.
The Symptoms of IBS include flatulence, bloating and abdominal spasms, diarrhoea, constipation or alternating diarrhoea and constipation. For some the symptoms will be very mild and nothing more than a slight inconvenience, for others, the symptoms can be severe enough to require the use of medication.
The trick to treating IBS is to find ways to cope with the symptoms. If you are overweight, then there are a number self help techniques that could help minimise the symptoms of IBS and help get your digestive system back to normal.
Self help techniques
- Reduce the amount of fat in your diet
- Cut down on carbohydrates and sugar
- Increase the amount of soluble fibre in the diet
- Avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol
- Eat smaller portions and eat slowly
- Never eat to the point where you feel full
- Avoid stress or find new ways to deal with stress
- Get more exercise
- Drink more water
- Do not eat for several hours before going to bed
Stress is a known trigger of IBS and indeed, too much stress can contribute to weight problems too as the body releases certain chemicals which can make you crave carbohydrates. Try to find ways of avoiding stressful situations or better ways of coping with stress when it arises.
Dealing with constipation
Constipation can contribute to weight gain and if left untreated can lead to further complications of the digestive tract. For example, when constipated, the bowel movement becomes hard and can get stuck in the intestines preventing the muscular contractions from working properly which can lead to a build up of even more faecal matter and so on. Although bowel movements can vary significantly from person to person, if you move your bowels less than three times a week then the chances are you are constipated and may need some help to get your bowels moving. Increasing the amount of soluble fibre in the diet along with drinking plenty of water and taking some regular exercise may be enough to get your digestive back on track. Particularly severe cases of constipation may need the help of laxatives but these should be for occasional use and not relied upon on a daily basis. Speak to your doctor for additional help and advice.
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