Do you suffer from IBS and are looking to start a weight loss diet?
It is estimated that about 15% of the UK population currently suffer from IBS and this number is growing each year.
We asked Lesley, our weight loss Dietitian to talk to us more about IBS and how we can look after our IBS symptoms when we are looking to change our lifestyle by joining a weight loss programme.
Here is a few handy snippets of what she had to say and her full video is at the bottom for you to enjoy!
What is IBS?
IBS is a disorder which means there’s a disruption in the function of your bowel but there’s not any disruption in the structure of it.
So if doctors were to have a look at your digestive system it shows that there’s no actual structure problems but there actually is a functional problem with your digestive system.
IBS appears to be more common in people aged between 20 and 40 and it’s twice as common in women as it is in men. When we look at the UK population, the average percentage of people that have IBS is round about 15%.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
The classic symptoms of IBS are pain, usually lower abdominal pain, bloating, which looks like bloating from just under your rib cage and tends to protrude like a pregnant belly.
There is urgency, so urgency to go to the toilet, there’s what we call ‘incomplete evacuation’, so when you go to pass a motion but you don’t feel that you get rid of it all, and there can be gurgling, so kind of a noisy, washing machine sound that comes with the IBS and there can be constipation.
There can be diarrhoea, there can be reflux, and there can also be heartburn.
Find out more from Lesley about how IBS symptoms can be triggered by mood in the full video below!
How can we be on a weight loss diet and not make our IBS symptoms worse?
When you want to start a weight loss diet with IBS, what we’re looking for is for you to achieve satiety without causing IBS flare-ups. We’re looking for you to feel full and satisfied.
If you’re trying a weight loss diet, the first thing I would look at is what’s the protein content of your diet?
And what I would encourage to do is that at each meal and each snack, that you have some sort of protein. Again, that will just make you feel fuller and satisfied.
So on top of protein, the other thing that gives us satiety and helps with weight loss is fibre. So it’s really important that we make sure that you have adequate fibre in your diet.
And some IBS symptoms can be triggered off by dehydration. It’s really important, it’s one of the most important things to talk about to people who are trying to lose weight is really making sure that you’re getting enough hydration in your diet.
If your IBS isn’t under control and you want to lose weight, or you want more help with your weight loss diet, you can chat with Lesley via our Weight Loss programmes or our Facebook Group, exclusive for patients on our programmes. Find out how you can join below.
How can I join a weight loss programme?
Find out what else weight loss Dietitian Lesley recommends for weight loss and IBS in her full video below!