Can SIBO Cause Weight Gain?
Have you been experiencing weight gain without any known reason? SIBO might be the cause of the extra pounds you’re carrying around. SIBO or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can cause various symptoms, as well as health issues. Weight gain, is one of the problems that SIBO can cause. Weight loss also occurs in some SIBO patients but today we’re going to cover the weight gain and how it’s caused.
SIBO Symptoms
- Weight Gain
- Weight Loss
- Bloating
- Gas
- Stomach Aches & Pains
- Abdominal Pain & Cramping
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
SIBO is triggered by an underlying health issue. There are various medical conditions linked to SIBO and as the condition persists so might the SIBO. SIBO can be cured but it will often recur in patients who don’t know about or haven’t had the initial medical condition treated.
What Causes The Weight Gain?
According to research there are two ways that SIBO causes weight gain.
- The overgrowth of bacteria create higher levels of methane gas in the gut than normal. This slows down the overall function within the small intestine which in turn causes the intestinal villi to absorb more calories per bite than they would normally absorb. This means that weight gain will occur.
- SIBO can possibly slow down the metabolism, affect the body’s insulin resistance, and affect the leptin resistance. Both the insulin and leptin resistance regulate satiety and hunger which means you will crave carbohydrates and even after eating proper meals you will still feel hungry, wanting to keep munching.
Another culprit that could be causing the weight gain from SIBO is the slower transit time of the food going through the digestion process. The longer the food sits undigested the more calories are being absorbed adding to the weight gain. Some believe this is due to the connection between the production of methane gas and slow transit time.
SIBO treatment through can help stop the weight gain by eliminating the excess bacteria. You might have to do a little work to shed the extra pounds but if you didn’t gain much then it may shed itself once your metabolism and body functions return to normal. SIBO diets are often combined with supplement use to help ease SIBO symptoms, as well as, limit the amount of new bacteria entering the gut. If you have any of the SIBO symptoms and are experiencing weight gain it’s a good time to talk to your doctor about taking a breath test.