Does IBS cause weight loss?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Dr Khaleel Ur Rahim

General Practitioner

MBBS
1+ Yrs

Consult Now

It is not very typical to have weight loss in IBS as compared to Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Due to severe abdominal pain or cramps, persons with IBS may consume less food than they normally would which may lead to weight change but significant weight loss may not be common.

Dr. Dr Khaleel Suggests...

Consult a Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist

Find a Gastroenterology/gi Medicine Specialist

Answered 04/07/2025

Ask Apollo

AI powered Health Chatbot

Continue Chat

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) typically does not cause significant weight loss. It is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized mainly by symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both).

Key points to understand:

Weight loss is uncommon in IBS: Most people with IBS maintain their weight. If weight loss occurs, it is usually mild and not a primary feature.
When to be concerned: Significant or unexplained weight loss is not typical of IBS and should prompt evaluation for other conditions such as infections, inflammatory bowel disease, or malabsorption.
Symptom management: Managing IBS symptoms through diet, stress reduction, and sometimes medications can improve quality of life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing notable weight loss along with IBS symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare provider for a thorough assessment to rule out other causes and ensure appropriate care.

More Gastroenterology/GI medicine Health Queries

View all

Question

I've been monitoring my stool for the past week, and after dealing with constipation for about three days, I noticed these small round red spots on my stool. They disappeared for a bit, but now they're back, although not in large numbers. It's a little freaky for me. Last month, I had a high blood pressure issue, but it's controlled now with homeopathic meds. Could you help me understand what might be going on?

Question

My mom's been having a really tough time for the past week with constant throat pain and vomiting. It all started with just a sore throat, and now she cant keep any food down at allit just comes back up. I'm really worried about her not being able to digest anything. What could be causing this, and what should we do?

Question

My ultrasound report says the gall bladder isn't visible but there's a dilated common bile duct measuring 20mm at the porta with a clump of calculi around 39x19mm in the middle part. Should I be worried about this? What does this mean for my condition? I had gallbladder surgery before and now seeing these findings could this be related to my past surgery or is it something new developing? What are the next steps I should take?