Endometriosis Weight Gain: Myths VS. Facts
Women experience various uncomfortable and painful side effects from endometriosis, but weight gain as a symptom of endo is still a hot topic. So, does endometriosis cause weight gain? Scientific research has not yet proven endometriosis weight gain, but our endowarriors frequently report weight gain and bloated endo belly as common symptoms.
Myths vs. Facts with Endometriosis and Weight Gain
Education surrounding endometriosis and weight gain is key to avoiding misinformation and finding what’s best for you and your body. Let’s debunk some of the most common myths I’ve seen floating around the internet and review what’s actually true!
#1
MYTH: MY ENDOMETRIOSIS IS MAKING ME GAIN WEIGHT.
FACT: THOUGH MANY WOMEN EXPERIENCE WEIGHT GAIN, IT’S OFTEN A RESULT OF HORMONAL TREATMENT OR IMBALANCES, CONSTIPATION, INFLAMMATION, AND MORE.
Does endometriosis cause weight gain? Every endobabe’s experience with this disease is different. Some women may experience endometriosis weight gain, while others experience endometriosis weight loss.
Here are a few of the main culprits linking endometriosis and weight gain:
Bloating: Bloating and fluid retention can cause weight to fluctuate, making endobabes look and feel heavier with an endometriosis belly pooch (aka endo belly.) Endometriotic growths often cause inflammation and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Estrogen: High estrogen levels are also believed to contribute to endometriosis weight gain. The increased hormones can cause additional fat to develop in the abdomen, a result that’s also reported in women going through menopause with changing estrogen levels. Hormone replacement therapy may help with endometriosis weight loss and other endometriosis symptoms; however, there are often other side effects that must be considered.
Birth Control: The most common medication for endometriosis is hormonal birth control (read my take on non-hormonal copper IUDs). Depending on which one your practitioner prescribes, you may notice weight fluctuations. Weight gain is most common with progestin-only pills like visanne or even bioidentical progesterone.
#2
MYTH: ENDOMETRIOSIS ONLY AFFECTS THE PELVIS.
FACT: ENDOMETRIOSIS IS A FULL-BODY CONDITION.
Simply put, endometriosis is NOT just a gynecological condition. It’s a full-body condition that affects much more than your pelvic area.
What else is affected by endometriosis?
Gut: Some of the most severe endo symptoms and inflammation are found within the gut. Researchers have found that endometriosis predisposes us to harmful proteobacteria that negatively impacts our digestion and gut health. Often, endowarriors experience painful bloating, nutrient deficiencies, low stomach acid levels, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, among other side effects. Imbalanced gut flora is common in endowarriors and predisposes the body to more unwanted weight gain. An overgrowth of bacteria called firmicutes extracts more calories and energy from food, contributing to weight gain.
Ovaries: The ovaries are one of the most common sites of endometriomas. Chronic pelvic pain and fertility concerns are two of the most common issues relating to the ovaries in endowarriors.
Liver: Though you may not initially associate endo with the liver, extensive periods of prescription pain reliever use, inconsistent eating habits, chronic inflammation, excess estrogen, and physical or emotional stress can result in poor liver function. Chronic pain due to endo can put the body into a sympathetic state (fight or flight) which triggers a rapid release of sugar from the liver that can cause weight gain.
Bladder: Endo can even compress or restrict the flow of urine, affecting the bladder and even kidney function. UTIs are also more common in endobabes.
Brain: An endo diagnosis also has physical and emotional impacts on the brain. More excitatory neurotransmitters (like epinephrine and norepinephrine), can lead to trouble sleeping, feelings of anxiety, and headaches as many report. Chronic pain-induced stress from endo can also cause weight gain. The stress response in the body releases insulin from the pancreas. With more insulin circulating through the blood, losing weight is more challenging. The higher levels of insulin also suppress the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), which causes testosterone and estrogen to be more present in the body. This can cause more pain and inflammation, making healthy, consistent food choices harder to make, worsening sleep quality (which will also put the body into a sympathetic state), and making exercise harder.
#3
MYTH: ENDOMETRIOSIS DIETS ARE MEANT TO HELP WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS WEIGHT LOSS.
FACT: WHILE MANAGING DIET AND NUTRITION CAN HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS, THE BENEFITS ARE FAR MORE SIGNIFICANT.
A diet catered to helping the symptoms of your endo proves therapeutic for those struggling. Beyond reducing endometriosis weight gain, managing diet and gut health can help tremendously with symptom improvement, fertility, and endo pain. Implementing an anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce inflammation and estrogen levels.
Here are some top nutrients that can improve your endo diet:
Fiber: Healthy bowel movements = more balanced estrogen levels. Your body gets rid of excess estrogen naturally through regular bowel movements, so adding more fiber to your diet can be beneficial. Looking for ways to boost your fiber intake? Add more fruits, veggies, legumes, and whole grains to your diet. However, endobabes must always be sure to introduce or increase any food group gradually to avoid gastrointestinal upset.
Omega-3: Adding healthy fats to your diet, like omega-3s, can help calm inflammation from endometriosis. Inflammation can be a significant cause of endo-related pain. Incorporate fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, walnuts and flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, and chia seeds into your diet to reap the benefits of omega-3s.
Magnesium: This mineral is a natural muscle relaxer. It can help with menstrual cramps and calm the mind of anyone struggling with anxiety or stress from their endometriosis. Incorporate magnesium-rich foods into your diet with leafy greens, legumes, nuts, and seeds (and dark chocolate in moderation!)
Don’t Let Endometriosis and Weight Gain Concerns Control Your Life
While endometriosis weight gain isn’t a given, I see many endobabes consumed by this topic. Honing in on the best approach to your diet has many benefits for your entire body.
So what are some ways that you can actually lose weight when you have endo?
Increase your consumption of resistant starches. They offer 1/2 the calories of other carbohydrates, which are excellent for the gut and inflammation.
Prioritize fiber and protein. Fiber helps keep us full, and most fiber sources also provide heaps of anti-inflammatory nutrition to help with endo pain.
Create only minor calorie deficits (100-200 kcal) daily. You'll notice lower cravings and hunger with small deficits, and it won't trigger a stress response, which is common in people who reduce their kcal intake too much.
Be mindful of fructose sources as 100 percent of fructose loads enter the liver. This is a disadvantage for weight loss and endometriosis because an overburdened liver will produce more insulin, and insulin is our fat storage hormone. Fructose also damages mitochondria which we need for energy, fertility, storage of calcium, and killing damaging inflammatory cells around the body.
Move your body in any way that's comfortable. Movement is good for the immune system, which is key for endometriosis sufferers. It helps with blood flow and inflammation. Moving your body burns energy, so it's essential for weight loss, but the added benefits mentioned above make it especially helpful for endowarriors.
Hydrate. The body can't differentiate between hunger and thirst, so in addition to inconsistent eating habits common with endo, and poor sleep quality, which throw off our hunger and satiety hormones, it's important not to let dehydration further contribute to poor food choices that may lead to weight gain.
Looking for extra support with implementing an endo diet that improves your symptoms, health, and overall happiness?
With my coaching program, I take a non-restrictive and holistic approach to how you fuel your body and ultimately better manage your endometriosis. Book a consultation with me to start your journey to reclaim control and improve your symptoms!