What's wrong with irregular bowel movements during weight loss

During weight loss, irregular bowel movements may be caused by changes in dietary habits, insufficient fiber intake, slowed intestinal exercise, acute gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and other factors. If the symptoms cannot be relieved, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and take targeted improvement or treatment measures under the guidance of a doctor.

1. Changes in dietary habits; During the weight loss period, patients will control their diet, resulting in less food intake. If there is a high water content in the stool, there will be symptoms such as water and mucus in the stool, which is a normal phenomenon and generally does not require special treatment. Patients are advised not to lose weight through dieting, but to have a balanced diet and moderate exercise.

2. Insufficient intake of dietary fiber: During weight loss, patients may neglect the intake of dietary fiber, which is important for promoting normal intestinal movement and producing formed stool. Insufficient dietary fiber may lead to unformed stools, constipation, and other conditions. It is recommended that patients have a balanced diet and consume more foods containing dietary fiber, such as celery and spinach, which may improve symptoms.

3. Slowdown of intestinal movement: During weight loss, strict restriction of food intake by patients may lead to a slowdown in intestinal movement, resulting in an increase in stool retention time, leading to reduced or incomplete bowel movements. Patients should avoid excessive dieting and can promote intestinal peristalsis and alleviate symptoms by drinking more water and exercising in moderation.

4. Acute gastroenteritis: If patients consume unclean or overly stimulating food during weight loss, it may cause bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal mucosa, leading to inflammatory reactions. Patients may also experience symptoms such as abdominal pain and watery stools. It is recommended that patients use medications such as levofloxacin tablets, norfloxacin capsules, amoxicillin capsules, etc. under the guidance of a doctor for treatment.

5. Irritable bowel syndrome: If a patient has irritable bowel syndrome, changes in dietary habits during weight loss may exacerbate gastrointestinal motility abnormalities and higher visceral sensitivity. Patients may exhibit symptoms such as diarrhea and loose stools. Patients can use probiotics quadruple active tablets, lactulose oral solution, montmorillonite powder and other medications under the guidance of a doctor to alleviate symptoms. Diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease can also cause this symptom. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly for relevant investigations to avoid delaying the condition. During the weight loss period, it is important to adhere to regular and quantitative eating habits, avoid overeating, exercise in moderation, and prevent excessive exercise from causing physical fatigue.