Is inflammation blocking your weight loss?

Short answer: chronic inflammation raises stress hormones, which makes insulin resistance worse, which slows the way your body uses food for energy and makes it more likely to store fat. That is how Dr. Mohamed Karim, D.C., explains the “hidden barrier” for people who diet and exercise and still cannot lose weight.

What keeps inflammation running

• Eating the same problem foods again and again. In his experience a food your body reacts to can keep causing trouble for five to seven days, so eating it every day or several times a week never gives the body a break.
• Stress: work, family, money, the news.
• Poor sleep, especially waking repeatedly and never reaching deep sleep.
• Gut dysfunction. His clinic tests every patient for signs of a leaky gut and says roughly 90 to 95% show them.
• Sitting too much. He sees many people at 3,000 steps a day or fewer.

Signs inflammation may be in your way

• Tired all the time, especially after meals or all weekend
• Joint pain: back, neck, knees, hips
• Brain fog: forgotten keys, forgotten parking spots
• Bloating after certain foods
• Stubborn fat, especially around the waist

Why it matters beyond the scale

Dr. Karim sees inflammation follow a path. It settles in the joints first, then around the nerves, which is where numbness, tingling, burning and cold hands and feet begin. Left long enough, that can progress to balance problems and falls. For someone who comes to him for weight, bringing inflammation down often helps their joints and nerves as well.

The “I’ve tried everything” pattern

The story he hears most: I have tried every diet there is. I lose weight and gain it back, or I lose some and hit a wall. His read is that the inflammation underneath was never dealt with. His clinic’s approach is to evaluate the whole person, including gut health and hormones (see hormone therapy in North Liberty), then build a plan around that person’s goals, adding an exercise program or a trainer when it helps.

Watch the episode

Stuck at the same weight? Read about medical weight loss in North Liberty and gut health care, or book a free consultation. Related: how inflammation damages nerves.

This article summarizes a podcast episode and is general information, not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer.