Losing weight can be a tough struggle. Committing to a healthy diet, portion control and regular exercise may be challenging, but the payoff is a healthier life and a fitter body. Changing your lifestyle or taking action to help lose weight, including weight-loss surgery, may pose unpleasant side effects. There are a number of reasons why weight loss may result in uncomfortable gas.
High-Fiber Foods
One of the best dietary changes to help you lose weight is to increase your intake of high-fiber foods. Crunching on raw carrot sticks, apples and other fresh fruits and veggies helps you drop pounds while staying full and satisfied. Unfortunately, these foods also tend to cause excess gas in the digestive tract because they're more difficult to digest and fully break down.
Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery, a type of weight-loss surgery, can help very overweight or obese people lose significant amounts of weight to improve their health. Bariatric surgery also tends to cause constipation. Constipation tends to result in gas, as undigested food sits in the colon and ferments, releasing gas, says MayoClinic.com.
Digestive Conditions
A digestive disorder may be behind both your weight loss and gas. Conditions such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bowel disease or other malabsorption issues can lead to weight loss because your body can't absorb the calories and nutrients in food. These conditions also commonly cause gas as a side effect.
Battling Gas
Don't let gas slow your weight loss efforts. You can take over-the-counter medications to alleviate gas if your doctor recommends it. If you're increasing your dietary fiber, do it slowly to give your body time to adjust. Learn which foods seem to trigger the worst gas, and avoid them. Drink plenty of fluids every day and get regular exercise to combat constipation and gas. If you have a health condition, see your doctor about treatment to help you maintain a healthy weight and alleviate gas.
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