Can Allergies Impact Weight Loss? Here’s What Research Shows
Although allergies per se are not due solely to weight gain, they have the potential to significantly impact biological and behavioral processes that are engaged in fat, energy, and general health. Allergen-induced immune responses can disrupt sleep, digestion, endocrine balance, and drive, all of which are components of effective weight regulation.
In this blog post, we look at the connection between allergic reactions and difficulty losing weight based on current scientific understanding and widely accepted beliefs about health and fitness.
Understanding allergic reactions
Allergies occur when the body’s immune response erroneously deems a widely innocuous material as a threat. In response, the organism mobilizes histamines and inflammatory mediators that trigger the phenomenon of sneezing, itching, nasal stuffiness, lethargy, and abdominal distension. Chronic inflammation is most relevant to body composition. The science reveals that ongoing immune activation can:
-Reduce insulin sensitivity, favoring fat storage
-Ramp up cortisol, a stress hormone associated with increased abdominal fat
-Disrupt leptin and ghrelin signals, hunger and fullness cues
-Slows down efficiency and causes the body to retain energy
This stress state can neutralize the physiologic setting necessary for loss of fat despite an exercise and nutrition program.
Decreased physical performance and energy
An often underestimated impact of long-standing allergies is fatigue. Fatigue is a physiological deficiency in energy as a result of prolonged immune action, compromised sleep, and loss of nutrients through inflammation. Fatigue caused by allergies may be worsened by:
-Inflammatory destruction of the lining of the digestive tract
-Disruption of sleep by nasal congestion or skin symptoms
-Side effects of antihistamines
These factors result in reduced physical activity and limited training and food planning ability, key drivers of adaptation and body recomposition.
Sleep disturbances and hormonal dysregulation
Those with allergic rhinitis have sleep disturbed by congestion, cough induced by post-nasal drip, or sinus pressure. It has been determined that poor sleep is related to high cortisol levels, glucose intolerance, and changes in appetite-controlling hormones—altogether, the ingredients of fat loss.
Further, sleep deprivation can heighten hunger for calorie-dense foods and uncontrolled physical movement, complicating the issue of weight management.
Digestive inflammation due to food sensitivities
Food sensitivity and allergy can cause overactivation of the immune system and inflammation, even without symptoms. Chronic exposure to these foods leads to gastrointestinal disturbances such as bloating, constipation, and increased intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) that can upset digestion and absorption of nutrients. This gut-immune connection is important because:
-Compromised digestion affects macronutrient and micronutrient absorption
-Inflammation can trigger blood sugar instability and cravings
The resulting discomfort can reduce the drive to move or engage in normal activity.
The most prevalent food offenders are gluten, dairy, soy, eggs, corn, and food additives. Though food intolerances differ from allergies, they both can elicit immune responses that interfere with metabolic function.
The role of cortisol
Cortisol is secreted as a natural response by the body to allergic inflammation. Although helpful in small amounts, chronic high levels of cortisol are harmful to body composition by allowing fat storage, especially in the abdominal area, and by inducing muscle tissue destruction, which slows down the resting metabolic rate.
Chronic elevation of cortisol also disrupts the thyroid axis and induces mood swings and carbohydrate cravings, both of which disrupt normal training and nutrition compliance.
Medication and weight management
Some studies have reported a correlation between the use of some antihistamines and a gain in body weight. While newer non-sedating forms are less likely to impact metabolic rate or appetite, older-generation antihistamines are likely to promote increased hunger or drowsiness.
The cost-benefit of medication use against long-term health goals is a major consideration. Medical professionals may help decide if other treatments or lifestyle modifications would be appropriate for individuals concerned with these side effects.
Take away
Allergic diseases have psychological consequences that affect adherence to lifestyle and overall health. Frustration of having constant symptoms, food restrictions, and disrupted sleep can lead to emotional eating and, lack of motivation to exercise.
While allergies themselves are not conducive to weight gain, they can create conditions inside the body that frustrate fat loss by inducing inflammation, hormonal imbalances, gastrointestinal distress, sleep disturbances, and mental stress. Exercise, diet, and recovery may help overcome these obstacles and improve health.