Pooja Sharma Pooja Sharma Asked 4 months ago

Can colitis cause weight gain?

I have ulcerative colitis, and for a long time, I've been struggling with weight loss during flare-ups. However, lately, I've been gaining weight without any changes in my diet. Can colitis cause weight gain in some people?

6

6 answers

Kiran Deshmukh Kiran Deshmukh Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago
Most liked

Usually, colitis causes weight loss, but weight gain can happen, especially if you are taking steroid medicines for flare-ups. I tried drinking ginger water and eating small, frequent meals to handle the bloating which often feels like weight gain. Do talk to your doctor about your diet.

Gopalakrishnan Nair Gopalakrishnan Nair Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

In most colitis cases we see in this community, weight loss is more common, but medications or a highly restricted diet of simple carbs can cause weight gain too. It's best to consult a clinical nutritionist who understands IBD so you can get the right nutrition without triggering your symptoms.

Aditya Varma Aditya Varma Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

I track my food and symptoms diligently on my phone, and I noticed that during flare-ups, lack of activity plus bloating made my weight spike on the tracker. It wasn't actual fat, just inflammation and water. Try tracking your daily water intake and see if it helps identify the pattern.

Powered by

Consult a dietary specialist

Meera Krishnan Meera Krishnan Joined May 2026 4 months ago

It is so incredibly frustrating when you are dealing with colitis pain and suddenly see the scale going up. I felt so down and helpless because of this. Sometimes it's just water retention from medication or changes in how our body absorbs nutrients, so please don't be too hard on yourself.

Rohan Malhotra Rohan Malhotra Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Hey there! Don't lose hope. While colitis usually leads to dropping weight, a lot of people actually gain some due to medications like steroids or because they stop moving around due to pain. Focus on healing your gut first, the weight will balance out eventually!

Related reads

All articles
Sanya Mirza Sanya Mirza Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

I know how stressful it is to see unexpected changes in your body when you are already dealing with a painful condition. It makes you overthink every single symptom. If you are noticing sudden weight gain, it might be due to your treatment plan, so definitely bring it up with your specialist to ease your mind.

Evidence-based health, reviewed by clinicians. Free, weekly.