Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain

Fibromyalgia is essentially a syndrome involving a considerably low threshold pain. The patient may complain of chronic pain felt into the muscles and ligaments of the body. Formerly called as fibrositis, various other problems like fatigue, mood fluctuation and sleep problems are associated with such a syndrome.

Why Do Patients With Fibromyalgia Have A Tendency To Gain Weight?

Patients having the syndrome of fibromyalgia easily gain weight because the condition excessively affects the patient’s metabolic process. Furthermore, the feeling of fatigue and chronic pain makes a patient inactive and unable to exercise regularly which adds to the weight gain. Apart from this, the prescribed medication can also interfere with the body weight of the patient thereby leading to weight gain.

What Are The Factors That May Lead To Weight Gain In Fibromyalgia?

Although there can be numerous reasons for the weight gain in fibromyalgia, some of the general and possible factors may include:

Inactivity: Due to the chronic pain experienced in the condition, the activity gets limited in a patient. Due to the inactivity, the metabolism slows down and the required amount of calorie to be burnt for weight loss is never reached.

Inability to Sleep: Another important symptom associated with fibromyalgia that can affect the patient’s weight is inability to sleep. Most patients with such a syndrome are unable to get deep sleep needed for proper metabolic functioning. Researches also show that lack of sleep increases high carbohydrate and sugar based food cravings.

Hormone Deficiency: Fibromyalgia is accompanied by deficiency of several hormones like the thyroid, serotonin, cortisol and so on. They can also lead to decreased metabolic rate thereby leading to weight gain.

Medicines: Medications prescribed to reduce the symptoms experienced in the syndrome may also interfere with the metabolic process that may lead to weight gain.

What are Some Possible Methods To Lose Weight For Patients With Fibromyalgia?

The chronic pain felt in fibromyalgia makes it impossible for patients to stick to a habit of routine exercise or even increase the intensity of it to burn calories. The patient in such a case should pay attention and adopt a food plan that facilitates metabolism and improve the ability to burn the calories.

Protein Intake: The patient should focus on protein rich food along with low intake of carbohydrates. Animal protein and dairy products should be included in the diet.

Avoid Carbohydrates: The patient should avoid sugar, pasta, rice and bread. They contain carbohydrate which needs to be avoided.

No Alcohol: Alcohol consumption should be done in moderation. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to weight gain.

Balanced Diet: While eating a meal, protein should be consumed first and later the carbohydrates including the good carbs. By doing so, the protein enzymes gets activated during digestion which reduces the absorption of carbohydrates.

Proper Mastication: The patients should slowly chew food while eating and not just literally stuff all the food in the mouth. Small but regular meals should be taken throughout the day to reduce unnecessary cravings. The patient can take a break from the diet plan according to his wish. This way the patient can relish the food the patient loves as well as have a healthy food habit.

Proper Diet Plan: It is important to work a diet plan with the doctor before starting with any plan. This will ensure that the plan is going to work and medications prescribed may not interfere with the plan so made.

Conclusion

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by excessive pain experienced in the muscles and ligaments. Such a condition does not have any specific treatment plan, although with proper care and medications, its symptoms can be treated.

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Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain