Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDoes It Affect Weight?Potential Causes of Weight GainEndometriosis and BloatingEndo and Weight GainDifficulty Losing WeightHow to Lose WeightWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Does It Affect Weight?
Potential Causes of Weight Gain
Endometriosis and Bloating
Endo and Weight Gain
Difficulty Losing Weight
How to Lose Weight
When to Seek Medical Care
Endometriosisis a common gynecologic condition in which tissue similar to thelining of the uterusgrows in other places in the body outside the uterus. Its primary symptoms include pelvic pain,infertility, andirregular periods. Other symptoms can consist of digestive or gastrointestinal symptoms or fatigue.
While little research points to endometriosis as a cause of weight gain in women, it can cause hormonal imbalances associated with weight changes.
This article discusses the link betweenendometriosis and weight gainand strategies to manage weight with this condition.
Does Endometriosis Cause Weight Gain?
Medical literature suggests that endometriosis is inversely related tobody mass index (BMI). This means that lower body weight is associated with endometriosis, and higher body weight is associated with a decreased risk of endometriosis.
While research isn’t clear about how endometriosis can cause weight gain, some people diagnosed with endometriosis may reportweight fluctuations. There are various potential causes of weight changes with endometriosis.
Hormonal Imbalance
Endometriosis is highly estrogen-dependent, meaning the hormoneestrogensignificantly impacts the growth and symptoms of the disease. People with endometriosis tend to have very high estrogen levels, which can cause a hormonal imbalance. Your hormones play a role in regulating your menstrual cycle, mood, energy, and weight.
Medication for Endometriosis
Since hormone therapy can alter the body’s normal cycle of hormone production, it can send the body into a “menopausal state,” stopping or reducing the menstrual cycle. Hormone therapy may also cause side effects such as weight gain, bloating, or bleeding between periods.
Hysterectomy for Endometriosis Treatment
Hysterectomy(surgical removal of the uterus) is a last-resort treatment for endometriosis that removes the uterus to reduce persistent pain. Sometimes the fallopian tubes and ovaries may also be removed, which will induce menopause. Weight gain, especially around the waist, is a common symptom of surgical or nonsurgical menopause.
Abdominal bloating, or “endo belly,” is a common symptom for people diagnosed with endometriosis. Compared to women without endometriosis, women with endometriosis experience much more discomfort, severe bloating, and changes in lower abdominal girth across the menstrual cycle.
In addition to abdominal bloating, some women report swelling in the hands, legs, or feet as a symptom.
“Endo Belly"“Endo belly” is a term used to describe severe abdominal bloating and discomfort associated with endometriosis. The cause of endo belly varies from person to person, but inflammation, gut health, and medications can contribute. People who experience endo belly often report “looking pregnant” from the severe bloating.
“Endo Belly”
“Endo belly” is a term used to describe severe abdominal bloating and discomfort associated with endometriosis. The cause of endo belly varies from person to person, but inflammation, gut health, and medications can contribute. People who experience endo belly often report “looking pregnant” from the severe bloating.
How Endometriosis Pain May Lead to Weight Gain
Is it Harder to Lose Weight With Endometriosis?
Losing Weight With Endometriosis
Aside from medical and surgical interventions, diet and exercise can also play a role in managing pain and weight changes associated with endometriosis.
Endometriosis Diet
While there is little evidence of one specific diet providing more benefits than another, consuming an overallhealthy diet can improve symptomsof endometriosis. An overall healthy diet is rich in the following:
Minimizing red meat, alcoholic and sugar-sweetened drinks, salt, and saturated fatty acids contributes to a healthy diet. Limiting or avoiding certain nutrients such as gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, and coffee was self-reported to alleviate endometriosis symptoms.
Physical Activity
While physical activity can seem daunting when dealing with chronic pain and discomfort, research suggests some benefits. Physical exercise may have anti-inflammatory effects, help to reduce symptoms and pain intensity, elevate mood, and decrease stress levels.
Alternative Treatment Options
Alternative treatment optionsfor endometriosis include:
Research is limited on alternative treatments for managing symptoms of endometriosis. However, these treatments are usually suggested as complementary and are widely accepted to be generally safe with fewer adverse effects than traditional medical or surgical interventions.
When to Talk to a Healthcare Provider
Talk with a healthcare provider if your endometriosis is causing uncontrollable weight gain and affecting your quality of life. Your provider can support you in discussing options for managing your weight when you have endometriosis.
Summary
Endometriosis is a chronic condition that causes symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, and infertility. Some people report weight gain as a symptom of endometriosis, which may be attributed to abdominal bloating or treatments for the disease. Pain may indirectly contribute to weight gain.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus.Endometriosis.
Yong L, Weiyuan Z.Association between body mass index and endometriosis risk: a meta-analysis.Oncotarget. 2017;8(29):46928-46936. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.14916
Chantalat E, Valera MC, Vaysse C, et al.Estrogen receptors and endometriosis.IJMS. 2020;21(8):2815. doi:10.3390/ijms21082815
National Institute of Health.What are the treatments for endometriosis?
Luscombe GM, Markham R, Judio M, Grigoriu A, Fraser IS.Abdominal bloating: an under-recognized endometriosis symptom.J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2009;31(12):1159-1171. doi:10.1016/s1701-2163(16)34377-8
Endometriosis Foundation of America.Managing ‘endo belly’ (severe bloating).
Okifuji A, Hare BD.The association between chronic pain and obesity.J Pain Res. 2015;8:399-408. doi:10.2147/JPR.S55598
Nap A, de Roos N.Endometriosis and the effects of dietary interventions: what are we looking for?Reprod Fertil. 2022;3(2):C14-C22. doi:10.1530/RAF-21-0110
Tennfjord MK, Gabrielsen R, Tellum T.Effect of physical activity and exercise on endometriosis-associated symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Women’s Health. 2021;21(1):355. doi:10.1186/s12905-021-01500-4
Bonocher CM, Montenegro ML, Rosa e Silva JC, Ferriani RA, Meola J.Endometriosis and physical exercises: a systematic review.Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2014;12:4. doi:10.1186/1477-7827-12-4
Kong S, Zhang YH, Liu CF, et al.The complementary and alternative medicine for endometriosis: a review of utilization and mechanism.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:146383. doi:10.1155/2014/146383
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
