What Is the Best Autoimmune Disease for Weight Loss?
Do you have an autoimmune disease and want to know which one is best for weight loss?
You might be asking yourself this question, since many autoimmune diseases cause weight loss. However, not all weight loss is caused by an autoimmune disease, so it’s important to understand the difference.
Here we will discuss the relationship between certain autoimmune diseases and weight loss, as well as how to use that knowledge to achieve your weight loss goals.
Autoimmune Diseases That Cause Weight Loss
It is well known that many autoimmune diseases cause weight loss. This is mainly due to the fact that patients with these diseases have a reduced appetite as a result of their low energy levels. Also, some autoimmune diseases can cause inflammation that interferes with normal food digestion, resulting in an additional loss of weight.
According to the American Diabetes Association, among those suffering from diabetes, 80-90% experience anorexia as a symptom.1 This condition makes it harder for them to maintain a healthy weight, and sometimes even harder for them to gain weight once they have started losing it.2
In addition to diabetes, other autoimmune diseases that cause weight loss include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Cancer
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Ulcerative colitis (UC)
- Sjögren’s syndrome (SS)
- Graves’ disease (TD)
- Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
- Psoriatic arthritis (PA)
- Crohn’s disease (CD)
- Hashimoto’s disease (HD)
- Ménière’s disease (MD)
- Erythema nodosum (EN)
- Bullous pemphigoid (BP)
How To Determining The Best Autoimmune Disease For Weight Loss
Since many autoimmune diseases cause weight loss, it’s important to determine which one is best for you in order to get the most out of your weight loss journey. There are several important factors to consider when making this decision, such as:
- Your budget
- Your personal preferences
- The severity of your individual symptoms
- The ease with which you will be able to adhere to the recommended treatment
- Whether or not you will lose weight as a result of the treatment you choose
Let’s take a look at each of these points.
Your Budget
Budget is always a key consideration in life, especially when you are trying to lose weight. One of the main reasons behind this is the fact that many weight loss supplements and medications are very expensive. However, there are some cases where a less expensive alternative might not be a good choice after all.
For example, you might want to take into consideration the fact that you are budgeting for insulin or anti-inflammatory medication. As we discussed earlier, inflammation is one of the main factors that interfere with normal food digestion, leading to an additional weight loss. So in cases like these, you may want to forgo the less expensive options and pay a bit more for the medications that effectively treat your condition.
Your Personal Preference
Now, this is an important one. Everyone has likes and dislikes, and it’s important to keep this in mind when deciding which autoimmune disease to go for. For example, some people might prefer taking anti-oxidants and vitamin C while other people might prefer to take insulin and/or statins for their type of diabetes. So, it’s important to consider your personal preferences before making a decision.
The Severity Of Your Individual Symptoms
Another important thing to consider when choosing which autoimmune disease to go for is the severity of your individual symptoms. This is especially relevant if you are not sure whether or not you have an autoimmune disease. Your doctor may ask you questions about your symptoms, and you should answer truthfully. Being unable to tell the difference between your symptoms and those caused by other illnesses can make it hard to know which disease you have. As we discussed earlier, many autoimmune diseases cause similar symptoms, so it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of your symptoms. This brings us to our next point.
The Ease With Which You Will Be Able To Adhere To The Recommended Treatment
The ease with which you will be able to adhere to the recommended treatment is another important factor to consider when choosing the best autoimmune disease for weight loss. This point refers to whether or not you will be able to take the medication or supplement that your doctor has prescribed for you. This is especially relevant if you have been advised to take a certain medication or supplement, but you have not yet started taking it. It is good to keep in mind that the effectiveness of some medications and supplements can vary from person to person. This is why it’s important to try and find out what works best for you individually.
Whether Or Not You Will Lose Weight As A Result Of The Treatment
The last but not least important point to consider is whether or not you will lose weight as a result of the treatment you choose. Many people want to lose weight because they feel that it will make them feel better. Sometimes, this can be a result of having an autoimmune disease and there is usually a weight loss associated with it. However, this is not always the case. In cases where the recommended treatment is successful, some individuals might not experience any additional weight loss. This brings us to our final point.
Overall
On the whole, there are several factors that you need to consider before choosing the best autoimmune disease for weight loss. Your budget, your personal preferences and the severity of your individual symptoms are all important considerations. Remember that not all autoimmune diseases cause weight loss, so it’s important to determine the root cause of your condition before starting any treatment.