Weight Loss With Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease, can cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. According to The Mayo Clinic, the major symptoms are abdominal pain and diarrhea. As a result of these symptoms, sufferers of ulcerative colitis can be in too much pain to eat, and can lose significant amounts of weight.

Eating smaller portions of a healthy diet can relieve symptoms and help prevent weight loss.

Causes

• The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, but if either of your parents or a sibling had the disease, you may have an increased chance of developing it.

Signs and Symptoms

• There are several signs and symptoms that can occur with ulcerative colitis, depending on the location of the disease.

  Pancolitis affects the whole colon, causing bloody diarrhea, pain and cramps in the abdomen, fatigue, and dramatic weight loss.

  Left-sided colitis causes inflammation that extends from the left side of the rectum, through the sigmoid and descending colon. Sufferers have bloody diarrhea, cramps and pain in the abdomen, extreme fatigue, and lose weight unintentionally.

  Ulcerative colitis can alternate between remission and acute illness, but the existence of the disease doesn't change.

Treatment

• If you have been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a physician may prescribe anti-inflammatory or sulfa drugs to control the symptoms.

Diet

• Diet plays no role in the development of ulcerative colitis, but once you've been diagnosed with the disease, paying attention to what you're eating can help reduce symptoms, replace lost nutrients, heal inflamed tissues, and prevent further weight loss.

  If you're experiencing ulcerative colitis symptoms, bland, soft foods like gelatin and pudding may cause less discomfort than spicy food, raw vegetables, and foods with high fiber.

  A healthy diet is essential in this disease because diarrhea and rectal bleeding can deplete electrolytes, fluids, and nutrients from the body. Most ulcerative colitis patients can eat meats, fish, and poultry for protein sources, along with breads, cereals, and fruits and vegetables for carbohydrates. You will need some fat in your diet, so include margarine and oil as fat sources.

  Eat smaller meals and snacks instead of three large meals, to help avoid weight loss.

  If you're lactose intolerant, avoid milk and milk products, and restrict caffeine if you have severe diarrhea symptoms.

  Avoid popcorn, nuts, and seeds as these foods can cause an obstruction.

  Drink fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration.