Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) occurs when, in short, your bowels are not working as they are supposed to. This condition affects upward of 20% of adults and is said to be the cause of over three million visits to the doctor’s office per year. Some reports have placed the condition as affecting one in five Americans.
Cramping, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and constipation — or any combination of these symptoms — often plague people living with IBS. Many complain of a swollen and painful abdomen and the feeling that their bowels have not been relieved in quite some time. Often this feeling subsides with a bowel movement, but other times the bloating sensation can still remain.
The pain can be unbearable at times, which can travel directly across the abdomen and even cause heartburn. The intensity of the symptoms can fluctuate drastically as well, but can often be controlled through a well-balanced diet.
New research has found a potential way to combat this condition — a little good, old-fashioned exercise.
It turns out that those who are obese and suffering from IBS are less likely to experience symptoms if they follow an exercise routine. The study, conducted by researchers in Seattle, set out to determine the correlation between obesity and gastrointestinal complaints for those in a weight-loss program. They also took into account symptoms and binge eating, diet, and exercise.
The 983 participants — most of whom were women — averaged a body mass index (BMI) of 33.2 and an average age of 53. A healthy BMI is between 20 and 25 and a person is considered obese when their BMI is over 27.
Information was collected through questionnaires and a standardized self-report, which related to diet, physical activity, and IBS and gastrointestinal symptoms.
The researchers found that a person’s diet and exercise program was directly correlated with the amount of pain or symptoms they experienced due to IBS. In addition to helping alleviate the symptoms, exercise and diet can also help to reduce the amount of extra weight one is carrying around as well thereby helping to alleviate the risk of other health conditions related to obesity, such as Type II diabetes, heart concerns, and sleep apnea.
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Tags: exercise, obesity, stomach problems
