GI Problems Make Exercise Tough for Overweight

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Here's another reason why overweight or obese people may not be getting all the exercise they need: gastrointestinal problems make it more difficult for them to get up and get active.

Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle, University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, and Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., came to that conclusion after studying about 1,000 overweight and obese men and women who were taking part in a weight loss study. The participants reported a range of stomach and intestinal problems, with 19 percent complaining of abdominal pain, 13 percent saying they had irritable bowel syndrome, 25 percent reporting diarrhea, and 20 percent reporting bloating.

Results also showed the more extra pounds the person was carrying, the more likely they were to report more of these problems.

The good news is, exercising regularly can help ease these symptoms over the long run by helping people shed those unwanted pounds. Study author Rona Levy says: "This study is another argument for exercise. Even though anyone engaging in a weight-loss program should know that gastrointestinal symptoms may impede their ability to exercise, those symptoms may also be alleviated by exercise."

The investigators note more than half of Americans are currently overweight and one in three is considered obese. The results of this study could help develop more effective weight loss strategies for these individuals.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://ivanhoe.com/newsletter/.

SOURCE: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2005;3:992-995