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The Relationship Between Fibromyalgia and Weight Gain

Individuals suffering from fibromyalgia may gain weight in most of the cases. There is a strong relationship between fibromyalgia and weight gain. Once you get a comprehensive idea about the relationship between fibromyalgia and weight gain, you can take measures to prevent weight gain problems. In this article, let us explore the triggering factors behind weight gain during fibromyalgia and then discuss the healthy diet you can follow during fibromyalgia, so that weight management is possible.

Slower Metabolic Process

Fibromyalgia triggers weight gain in people because of a wide variety of factors which are either directly or indirectly associated to the occurrence of the disease itself. Since fibromyalgia results in hormonal imbalances, it can influence levels of thyroid, insulin, cortisol, and serotonin. In addition, it profoundly affects the production of growth hormones. Since there is an apparent hormonal imbalance, it influences the metabolism process and makes it slower than normal, which leads to weight gain.

Fatigue and Sleep Apnea

Apart from hormonal imbalance, since fatigue is one of the most vital symptoms of fibromyalgia, it also leads to weight gain problems. It has been shown that there is a strong correlation between weight gain and fibromyalgia fatigues. People experiencing fibromyalgia may also suffer from sleep disturbances, leading to a poor quality sleep, which, in turn, makes individuals even more exhausted and these people simply lack the ability to stay active, which means fewer calories are actually burnt. This also causes problems with weight gain.

Excessively Low Blood Sugar

People experiencing fibromyalgia have developed an increased sensitivity towards insulin, which causes an excessive amount of glucose to be transferred from the blood and forced in to the muscles. However, since muscles have a limited capacity to store glucose, the transferred glucose virtually has no places to go. This leads the body to forcefully construct a fat-depositing system, in which excess glucose is turned into fatty tissue. Contrary to the popular belief that fatty food contributes to increased weight, it is actually caused due to a high-carbohydrate diet.

Helpful Diet

Since fibromyalgia deeply influences the maladaptive nature of metabolism and the dysfunctional characteristics of carbohydrate response, the diet needs to be designed for fibromyalgia patients in such a manner that these factors can be effectively taken under consideration. A higher carbohydrate diet cannot benefit patients suffering from fibromyalgia, rather it could exacerbate the condition to a greater extent. Since the metabolic rate is much slower, eating less is typically difficult for these people.

Typically selecting the appropriate 'quality' of foods can only offer benefit to patients suffering from fibromyalgia and weight gain problems. Opt for good proteins such as low fat dairy products, lean meat, turkey, eggs, soy, legumes; good carbohydrates such as different types of fresh fruits and fresh vegetables and good fats such as plant oils, fish oil, almond, avocado; etc. Since your metabolism is much slower, you must eat your food very slowly and must chew your food well.