Can diverticulosis cause weight stagnation?

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Last updated: March 5, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Research

Diverticulosis itself typically does not directly cause weight stagnation. Diverticulosis is a condition where small pouches (diverticula) form in the wall of the colon, and many people with this condition experience no symptoms at all. However, if diverticulosis progresses to diverticulitis (inflammation of the diverticula) or causes other complications, indirect effects on weight might occur.

  • During acute diverticulitis episodes, patients may experience reduced appetite, nausea, or abdominal pain that limits food intake, potentially leading to temporary weight loss rather than stagnation.
  • Some patients with chronic diverticular disease might modify their diets to avoid certain foods they believe trigger symptoms, which could potentially affect weight management.
  • Additionally, if a person experiences ongoing discomfort or bloating from diverticulosis, they might unconsciously reduce their food intake. However, these effects are generally not significant enough to cause persistent weight stagnation in most cases, as supported by recent studies such as 1 and 2. If you're experiencing both diverticulosis and unexplained weight stagnation, it's advisable to consult with a healthcare provider as these symptoms may be unrelated, and other factors like metabolism, diet, physical activity, or other medical conditions are more likely contributors to weight plateaus, as suggested by 3. The most recent and highest quality study, 2, provides insights into the relationship between diverticulosis and various risk factors, but does not directly address weight stagnation, further emphasizing the need to consider other factors in weight management.

References

Research

Updates in the understanding and management of diverticular disease.

Current opinion in gastroenterology, 2022

Research

Environmental and Dietary Risk Factors for Colonic Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis.

Journal of gastrointestinal and liver diseases : JGLD, 2021

Research

Diet in colonic diverticulosis: is it useful?

Polish archives of internal medicine, 2020

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