Strict diets, skipping meals and restricting fluids can lead to constipation which can add 2 to 6 pounds to the scale. Ease constipation by increasing fiber-rich foods, water and exercise.
In short, yes and no. Constipation and weight gain are linked, as factors contributing to constipation, bloating and fullness can cause weight gain, but constipation itself is only likely to cause an increase in weight in the short term (a matter of a few hundred grams per day) until your constipation eases.
For most people constipation rarely causes complications, but people with long-term constipation can develop: haemorrhoids (piles) faecal impaction (where dry, hard stools collect in the rectum) bowel incontinence (the leakage of liquid stools)
Apart from bloating and abdominal discomfort, constipation can be a trigger for headaches, irritability and depression, inability to think clearly and concentrate, and it can slow your metabolism, making weight loss impossible.
Bloating may occasionally add a pound or two, but it doesn't actually signify weight gain. A simple way to tell the difference between bloating and weight gain or fat is how your stomach looks and feels. If your stomach is tight and hard, then bloating is the cause. If your stomach is soft and thick, then that's fat.
This may be due to menstruation, heart or kidney failure, preeclampsia, or medicines you take. A rapid weight gain may be a sign of dangerous fluid retention. If you quit smoking, you might gain weight. Most people who quit smoking gain 4 to 10 pounds (2 to 4.5 kilograms) in the first 6 months after quitting.
Sudden weight gain -- 2-3 pounds in a day or more than 5 pounds a week -- could mean it's getting worse. You also might have swollen feet and ankles, a faster pulse, heavy breathing, high blood pressure, memory loss, and confusion. You might want to track these symptoms so you can tell your doctor about abrupt changes.
If you were to weigh yourself before and after pooping, the weight change on the scale would reflect the weight of the stool, which also contains protein, undigested fat, bacteria, and undigested food residues. Of course (and unfortunately), this doesn't mean you've lost weight.
However, this effect is only temporary. Laxatives do not reduce body fat or promote long-term weight loss. Even at high doses, stimulant laxatives, which encourage the movement of stool through the digestive tract, have only a “ modest effect ” on calorie absorption.
Constipation and skin issues
Chronic constipation is also associated with skin issues. One may have acne, pimples, face bloating, dark circles, rashes and even eczema due to constipation.
The normal length of time between bowel movements varies widely from person to person. Some people have them three times a day. Others have them just a few times a week. Going longer than 3 or more days without one, though, is usually too long.
This means an abnormal pooping schedule can vary depending on how often you usually have bowel movements. Not pooping for even three days might be extremely atypical, or unusual, for some people. Generally, however, Dr. De Latour stated that eight days without pooping is concerning for most people.
Eating When you Have Constipation. Try these things to relieve your constipation: Do not skip meals. Avoid processed or fast foods, such as white breads, pastries, doughnuts, sausage, fast-food burgers, potato chips, and French fries.
Water retention
Perhaps this is the body's way of trying to hold on to water to ease constipation - or it could be related to gut bacteria, we just don't know. Either way, it can create rapid and uncomfortable weight gain.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
And like constipation (a symptom of IBS), it can cause bloat and chronic inflammation, which, once again, could lead to weight gain.
In summary, the side of effects of constipation on the body include: Fatigue. Weight gain. Bad skin.
Laxative Withdrawal
Common side effects are constipation, fluid retention, and temporary weight gain (Eating Disorders Review, 1999). Just as any weight loss from using laxatives is temporary; it is important to remember that this weight gain is temporary and is mainly due to increased fluid retention.
In fact, laxative use is an ineffective weight loss strategy. Some people do experience a temporary reduction in weight, but this is due to water loss. It is not the same as losing body fat. In the long run, you do not lose weight on laxatives.
Laxatives do not decrease body fat or aid in sustained weight loss. Even high doses of stimulant laxatives, which prompt the movement of stool through the digestive tract, only have a small effect on calorie absorption. Laxatives are not a solution for weight loss, they are intended to relieve constipation.
Research on fecal weights has found that a person's poop can weigh as little as 72 grams (about 2.5 ounces), or as much as 470 grams (about 16 ounces or 4 pounds). ⁴ The weight of your stool is mainly dependent on your diet and the frequency of your bowel movements.
Since most of us can't eat so much in a day or two that we actually gain a couple of kilos a day, a dramatic increase in weight could be due to water retention. Eating, drinking, urinating, bowel movements, exercise—everything can affect your body's water composition and, therefore, weight.
Transitioning from a very low calorie and low carbohydrate diet to a low calorie and moderate carbohydrate diet often leads to a weight gain of 1-2 kgs in a matter of one day. This is mainly because of a sudden increase in the carbohydrate content which is stored along with water in the body.
One of the greatest diet pitfalls is waking up and thinking you have 'blown your diet', but apparently it's your following day that's the real decider. According to Women's Health, the secret clue to how much weight you can gain in one day is actually a lot less than you probably imagined… a single pound.
You're gaining muscle. The scale might be stuck because you're building up your biceps and glutes—and that's a good thing. The number on the scale is less important than the breakdown of how much water, muscle, and fat are in your body, Jovanovic says.