Diarrhea is among the most reported illnesses in the US, which comes second to respiratory infections. If the condition lasts for a while, it leaves the body weak, leading to weight loss. Whether it is intentional or unintentional, prolonged diarrhea can be dangerous as it leaves the body dehydrated. We all have been there! Don’t you hate the feeling of getting this strong urge for poop especially, during an important business meeting or date? Not only, it’s embarrassing, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, but persistent diarrhea can also lead to weight loss.

Diarrhea is a disease caused mainly by a viral infection in the intestines, also called the flu; it infects your bowel and lasts a couple of days. Bacteria is another major cause, but you will normally recover on your own after a few days.

 

Effect of Diarrhea on weight:

One of the main effects diarrhea has on your body is water loss. You lose a large amount of water from your body, leading to electrolyte imbalance, and if worse, kidney failure. Diarrhea that lasts for a long time can cause you to lose weight too. The weight loss means there’s dehydration. It is most probable.

If you are careless about water intake during this condition and lose too much water, you’ll end up losing weight or get other complications so, if there’s an extreme change in bowel activity, especially weight loss, it needs to be checked out.

 

The amount of weight you lose depends upon the severity of the condition. If it’s not that severe, it will probably not lead to any weight loss. But if it sticks for a longer period, it may decrease weight, and the amount of weight loss depends upon the severity and the current condition of the person affected. If the person is healthy and can handle the water loss, he can walk away with just a little weight loss. But if the sufferer is struggling with some disease and cannot sustain their water levels, then the weight loss might be more.

 

Can you lose weight from diarrhea?

 

It is common to come across a question like, “Can you lose weight from diarrhea?” Well, losing weight through diarrhea means that the body is deprived of plenty of fluid within a short time. According to Healthline, a drastic change in fluid body volume can lead to quick weight loss, and you will notice a few drops of pounds in weight.

 

Different conditions like food poisoning, travel diarrhea, and malabsorption can lead to diarrhea and later weight loss. Malabsorption, which is impaired absorption of fats, affects the digestion process allowing nutrients to pass through the bowel without getting absorbed into the body. As a result, the body becomes weak. Diarrhea that stays for a while can undoubtedly lead to weight loss. The root cause of this diarrhea can be either food poisoning or some inflammatory bowel condition. Some people might even get it during travelling by eating contaminated food or drinks. This type of diarrhea usually goes by the name of traveller’s diarrhea. Accompanied by nausea, bloating, or abdominal cramps, this type of diarrhea may last for up two weeks.

People all over the world tend to experience some weight loss due to this condition. Apart from weight loss, certain levels of dehydration have also been faced by people who suffer from constant diarrhea. Although diarrhea can be a symptom of a severe illness, mostly it’s caused due to consumption of enterotoxigenic E. coli, which is one of the six enters virulent E coli.

 

Does diarrhea make you skinny?

We’ve already learned that severe diarrhea can lead to weight loss, but that weight loss isn’t severe enough to make a healthy person skinny. If your health status is excellent, there is no chance of any drastic effects on your weight, but if you’re already ill or weak, this weight loss may lead to severe conditions and lead you to a state where you might end up skinny. It is t be noted that this only happens in rare cases where the patient is already suffering and cannot handle the effects of the changing bowl movements.

If the body doesn’t absorb enough nutrients while you lose a lot of water and fluids, the body will be malnourished, making you look skinny. Some of the nutrients you lose through diarrhea are; calories, vitamins, protein, sodium, water, and potassium. A prolonged period where you lack the nutrients above affects the body shape.

 

Intentional diarrhea means that you have a method of inducing diarrhea, such as Keto dieting. The process can be quicker, but you will bear the frequency of visiting the washrooms and the uncomfortable stay for some days.

According to research, many people link diarrhea with weight loss, which is true in many cases, but sometimes this is not the case. Research has also proven to link diarrhea with weight gain directly. Diarrhea and weight gain may be caused by ascites caused by liver cirrhosis or heart failure, or malignant tumours in the abdominal cavity that cause ascites. Irritable bowel syndrome may also be the cause.

Celiac disease happens to be an illness in which the digestive system cannot process gluten. It is a component of many foods, including most bread and even some medicines. Many people with celiac disease have loose stools from eating gluten. Celiac disease causes the malabsorption of nutrients. However, according to the National Digestive Information Center, it can also cause sudden weight gain. Excessive consumption of sweets and sugary foods can also lead to weight gain and loose stools.

 

How much weight can you lose from diarrhea?

Diarrhea means that you are losing water weight. It can be challenging to determine the amount of weight you’ll be losing as a result. If the diarrhea is deliberate, your doctor might have taken your previous weight, making it easy to know the amount of weight you lose by subtracting the current weight after diarrhea from the weight before diarrhea. Diarrhea mostly flushes out all the fluids in your body, which might make you dehydrated. However, with diarrhea, you can drop a couple of pounds. An average poop weight is around ¼ pounds to 1 pound. Whenever we poop, we feel slimmer as it reduces gas and bloating.

Eating healthier foods and maintaining a balanced diet that is packed with nutrients can help in weight loss. Losing weight through excessive pooping or diarrhea is not an effective way to lose weight. Focus on burning more calories through exercise and a diet.

 

Additionally, if you are experiencing chronic weight loss, it means the rate at which you lose water weight is fast, which results in rapid weight loss. If you feel uncomfortable with the symptoms arising from chronic diarrhea, then see your doctor before advancing health problems.

 

Frequently asked questions

 

What causes diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a disease caused by different germs that include parasites, bacteria, and viruses. It can result in serious health problems if you don’t seek medical evaluation.

 

How can one get diarrhea to lose weight?

This is called intentional diarrhea that comes with taking a ketogenic diet which helps you shed many pounds but will increase your bathroom schedule.

 

Can diarrhea make one lose appetite?

Since your stomach is upset, you might not feel like eating, which affects your appetite for food. It might still come with symptoms like dizziness.

 

Is intentional diarrhea safe?

Most Keto diets assist on how to get diarrhea to lose weight quickly. The process is safe when you have authorized products. If it becomes chronic with symptoms like vomiting and dizziness, then seek medical attention.

 

Is it normal to lose weight in diarrhea?

It’s completely normal to lose weight in diarrhea. Diarrhea is typically caused by bacterial infections or stress and lasts for many days, causing you to lose weight.

 

How healthy or unhealthy is it to lose weight from diarrhea?

It’s unhealthy as you lose most of the water weight, so all the fat will come back when you get rid of diarrhea. More so, it reduces the stamina of your immunity and makes you more vulnerable to various diseases.

 

Why does diarrhea make you dehydrated?

It makes you dehydrated mainly from the fluids lost from your body. Therefore, it’s very crucial to consume a lot of water and drinks during this condition.

 

Can you gain weight from diarrhea?

Yes, some people tend to gain weight with loose stool. This may result from ascites, cirrhosis, or some heart failure.

 

What type of disease is diarrhea?

Answer: It’s a disease of the bowls where there is increased waste secretion and fluid form.

 

How do you get diarrhea?

Answer: You can get diarrhea by both viral and bacterial infections in the intestines. That’s why it’s also called “intestinal flu.”

 

What effects does diarrhea have on you?

Answer: Diarrhea can lead to water loss from the body, which can cause dehydration. Sometimes that can cause weight loss.

 

How do you keep yourself from getting worse in diarrhea?

Answer: You should drink plenty of water and fluids to balance the water that happens cause of the frequent bowel movement.

 

Conclusion

Finally, can you lose weight from diarrhea? Weight loss through diarrhea is possible as you lose a few pounds of water weight. This can make you skinny and even weak. When the condition is chronic, we advise you you visit your doctor for further guidance. If you are using keto dieting for weight loss, ensure you have the approved products. Acute diarrhea is the most common illness reported right after respiratory disease. Around the world, it’s a leading cause of mortality in young children. It is imperative to reduce diarrhea symptoms by leading a healthy lifestyle, practising preventive medicine, adhering to a nutritional plan, and exercising regularly.

Diarrhea is one of the most common diseases, and it goes away as easily as it comes. There are rare cases where it can cause complications, but those are few and far between, and there are still ways to deal with them.

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