As many people are discussing foods that can affect their wellbeing - I wondered if gaining weight or being over weight could be a contributing factor in flare ups - or even lass of wieght ?
I have a BMI of 26 apparently - ie not a stick person - and I didnt calculate it so perhaps a waist measurement and height would be an easy way to determine whether there is a factor here that should go into the melting pot
Definitely I was 17stone when mine started
I am now between 14 and 14.7lb
Less flare ups but I think it's also eating less junk, fasting 2 days a week on 500 cals (when I can fast. Terrible will power) xx
My bmi is about 32
I'm 5'6"
33 years old x
BMI comparisons would be interesting, with also M/F. I am assuming being overweight may affect metabolism +other factors and hence urine characteristics. (All guesswork I might add). Now to go and weigh myself.
I was thin when I got it at nineteen years or earlier. I'm not thin now, but size 14.
25.5 BMI now.
I'm definitely overweight and think I was on my way up to this weight when it started.
I am currently about 14.5 stone in weight and only 5ft tall or thereabouts.
Hi Dak, I have terrible will power too, jiust like Oscar Wilde.
I'm overweight too and height 1m69 so tall as well! Judging from some of the comments on this forum, there are a lot of ladies who are careful about their diets. I should follow their good example.....
Hi, No I don't think being overweight bears any factor in causing this problem. I actually think that it is something more likely triggered by hormones, kicked off by possible stress related problems. Hence why it is often thought to be connected to sexual abuse in some sufferers. Mine being there mildly most of my life then being really active following a total hysterectomy. I had some traumas in childhood (not sexual but very traumatic family upheavals) which preceeded my LS starting.
Diabetes has been linked to LS along with Thyroid problems and other auto immune problems. Lots have connection to hormone problems. I worry that being fat is blamed for causing so many illnesses. Thyroid problems definately causing weight problems, both losing weight and gaining it. It is so easy for the medical profession to blame your weight for causing an illness.
Recently there has been some discussion about whether BMI is worth calculating at all as It is not an accurate way of diagnosing causes of illnesses, most being likely to be heriditary or caused by enviromental factors. It has been proved that some overweight people are in fact healthier than skinny people. A lot of skinny people have higher cholesterol than larger people. I know that not everyone will think like me, I just thought as you asked the question I would throw this thought in for everyone to consider as well.
Chrisy, what you say makes sense. It's not cause-and-effect. However, I gained a size or so over the last year and when I look back, sugar was the culprit. And now I've found a direct connection between my flare-ups and sugar consumption. So, I think sugar caused both my weight gain and last year's bad flare-up. That is not at all the same as being overweight causing the disorder to arise. I got LS when I was young and thin but it got bad when I was eating heaps of chocolate and donuts, gaining the same extra size – during a very high stress time. And I had gone on birth control pills. Then we can look at how stress eating results in a bad diet.
Last night it crossed my mind that during the two periods when I had IUDs, the LS was bad. Koebner effect, I suppose – continuous irritation in the neighbourhood of the vulva.
I am sure mine was caused through stress, and the hormones, I could do with losing a stone , which I would love to do. I don't have any other auto immune at the moment, so I am thinking of starting a glutton free diet, just need to get some will power.
As regards BMI, it was a tool invented nearly 200 years ago to chart weight versus health in populations rather than individuals, it was a rough index of the overall nutritional status of the country. Current society places far to much emphasis on the actual individual figures, and many studies have shown that it is inaccurate when measuring fat versus muscle in athletes. Similarly, recent studies have shown that its healthier to be a bit overweight than underweight as you age. A friend in the insurance business told me that originally there were two scales for underwriters, for the over and under fifties, as it is an accepted fact that people everywhere begin to put on weight as they age. However, it was decided that this was too much trouble for the actuaries to work with when calculating life expectancy, health risks etc so only one was adopted, and this spread out to the wider community as accepted fact. Can't say whether this is true but it makes sense to me! By all means watch your weight and eat a healthy diet, but don't obsess, as this just causes more stress. My BMI is 27.5 but I have a large frame -big hands and feet for my size - and I'm fit so I don't worry about it too much.
It is always worth considering the origin of any of these so-called medical facts: there are many claims that the composition of the 'food pyramid' model in the US has been unduly influenced by presure groups in the agricultural industry such as the grain and dairy lobbies.
We are obsessed with hitting the doctors targets but I know if I got to my lower "ideal weight" of 8.7lb I'd look so ill!
Sad that everyone plays into the medical persons hands by stressing, which then has a knock on effect with our health and indeed mental health xx
My query about weight issues relate to the heat generated in the nether regions when overweight, I find when being less bulky i dont get the soreness in my various abdominal wound sites and thought there might be a relationship with those hot little areas where LS strikes.
I have always taken the middle course - there have been too many scare stories or wonder cures - the finding of which are frequently reversed - Even when the conventional scientists publish their results- think of The Pill HRT breast implants "wonder" foods extreme actions are rarely sensible.
My view is if it aint broke don't fix it! But make sure that it doesnt break in the first place, by looking after it...If you follow my meaning!
Thank you Kate for your response As you say The "ideal" weight was charted by actuaries in the late 1940/50's who looked at the age height sex and weight of people at death and extrapolated their findings for life insurance purposes. However there is clearly a relationship to extreme obesity and poor health. As we age our activity levels can decrease and stamina too, so unless the consumption is altered to reflect this we will increase in weight pushing our tired organs to work harder. I did suggest looking a waist measurements might be a better indicator - mine has increased fro an 18.5" when 18 years old to 32 today! - hips have only altered 5" in the same time!
I do try to comfort myself with the fact that it's pretty normal to lose our waist definition over age 50. And BMI puts me just over the top of normal – all ages. I prefer to think I'm well within normal for age 62.
Roselee, if your only autoimmune disorder is LS, please consider this, from:
Gluten-Free: Fad, Friend, or Foe?"Is a Gluten-Free "life-style," really code for an Eating Disorder?
Published on November 2, 2013 by Judy Scheel, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. in When Food Is Family
“Based on little or no evidence other than testimonials in the media, people have been switching to gluten-free diets to lose weight, boost energy, treat autism, or generally feel healthier. This doesn’t make much sense to Dr. Daniel A. Leffler, director of clinical research at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
“People who are sensitive to gluten may feel better, but a larger portion will derive no significant benefit from the practice. They’ll simply waste their money, because these products are expensive,” says Dr. Leffler, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. (Strawbridge, www.health.harvard.edu.)
Here are some reasons to consider NOT going gluten-free unless there is a medical need to do so:
Gluten-free food will likely set you up for deficiencies of important nutrients, including B vitamins, especially, B9 (folic acid) – Whole food breads and cereals are loaded with B vitamins. Eating fiber rich foods are important, especially for breakfast, in order to get and maintain normal intestinal and bowel movement. Removing whole grains will add to digestive problems overall, not correct them. Most Americans do not eat enough fiber. It is possible to get more fiber from brown rice and fruit, which are gluten-free, but a person must be committed to eating enough of these foods on a daily basis to achieve a similar effect of foods rich in fiber like wheat breads and cereals.'
This answers any doubts I had about jumping on the bandwagon.
Oops, I didn't take the links out of the middle of that quote.
Roselee, before you go on this gluten free diet, consider this cip from an article:
Gluten-Free: Fad, Friend, or Foe?"Is a Gluten-Free "life-style," really code for an Eating Disorder?
Published on November 2, 2013 by Judy Scheel, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. in When Food Is Family
Aside from the genius of marketers to find yet another way to convince us how we can buy happiness, health and bloat-free bellies, here is the thinking behind going gluten-free as the next new ‘diet’ ………ah...ehm…. “life-style eating.” (Euphemism, if you ask me.) Eating gluten-free without the diagnosis of Celiac Disease promises to provide a body aesthetic (no bloated bellies) and purports that its followers will come to feel mentally alert and physically less tired and stressed and even lifts depression. Seems to me that a lifestyle based on healthy eating from all food groups, sleep, exercise and good relationships will do the same thing. But that takes time and involves emotions and thinking. Eating gluten-free food offers the faster road to Happy Rome…..thus, appealing. Quick fix – gets us most of the time to capitulate and adhere to more quick fix solutions.
“Based on little or no evidence other than testimonials in the media, people have been switching to gluten-free diets to lose weight, boost energy, treat autism, or generally feel healthier. This doesn’t make much sense to Dr. Daniel A. Leffler, director of clinical research at the Celiac Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
“People who are sensitive to gluten may feel better, but a larger portion will derive no significant benefit from the practice. They’ll simply waste their money, because these products are expensive,” says Dr. Leffler, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. (Strawbridge, Harvard)
Here are some reasons to consider NOT going gluten-free unless there is a medical need to do so:
Gluten-free food will likely set you up for deficiencies of important nutrients, including B vitamins, especially, B9 (folic acid) – Whole food breads and cereals are loaded with B vitamins. Eating fiber rich foods are important, especially for breakfast, in order to get and maintain normal intestinal and bowel movement. Removing whole grains will add to digestive problems overall, not correct them. Most Americans do not eat enough fiber. It is possible to get more fiber from brown rice and fruit, which are gluten-free, but a person must be committed to eating enough of these foods on a daily basis to achieve a similar effect of foods rich in fiber like wheat breads and cereals.
This is enough to settle any doubts I had for mmyself about jumping on the bandwagon.
Hi Roselee, to lose weight reduce your intake and increase your activity. This very simple message is hard to achieve - i know only too well especially as IF you havea low thyroid count the metabolic rate is slowed down. One way is to REALLY understand what it is you are consuming. Keeping a food diary adding the activity youn undertake will give you a very good idea just how much you are eating and drinking and when. It also show just how much exercise you have too. From the moment you get up everything that goes into the mouth is written in the diary - AND the quantity. Once you understand your eating habits you can address your own issues. Most people these days have an understanding of the basics of a sensible diet, the trouble is we want a quick fix and there are those who"sell" quirky fast solutions to make us feel better. Good luck but dont worry if you cant achieve your goals quickly - WORRY is THE worst enemy of autoimmune conditions