Is Heartburn Causing Me To Be Fat? Every meal I eat causes indigestion and heartburn, so I take a lot of antacids. But I’ve noticed that the pounds are piling on, to the tune of 18 pounds in four months! My doctor says this is normal for a 40-year-old, but I feel my weight gain has something to do with the heartburn. Is that possible?
Yes, your heartburn, antacid use and weight gain could be linked. Most people think these problems are a result of too much stomach acid, so they take antacids. But the problem may actually be too little hydrochloric acid (HCI). A shortage of HCI in the body can add pounds because the acid stimulates the production of fat-metabolizing bile and digestive enzymes. This lack of enzymes can cause indigestion, but the use of antacids just reduces HCI further. To restore HCI, replace your antacid with an HCI supplement, like Now Betaine HCI (available at iHerb.com). Take one pill at the start of each meal. If upon taking the HCI supplement you notice a burning sensation, you likely have an ulcer. Discontinue using this product and see your doctor.
2 Responses
An 18 pound weight gain in 4 months is not normal! Anyone in this situation should demand more investigation from their medical provider. Other conditions, like hypothyroidism, can have severe consequences.
This is an OLD post, but I’ll answer anyway…
I am NOT a doctor, but I can give my experience. I started having issues with GERD during my pregnancy, at age 23. It went away post delivery, or so I thought, and reared it’s ugly head 20 years later. In all the years proceeding the first bout of GERD, I started battling weight. I’d always been “scrawny” up unto that point. When it hit me hard in my 40’s again, my weight went even more sideways. Tests showed no reason for weight gain, but I believe it was because the GERD always made my stomach feel “empty” even though it actually caused bloating. (Go figure!) …and so I over ate! I’m currently working with a digestive doctor because after 9 years on antacids, they have stopped working as well, and I feel like they are doing more harm then good. NO diet or ANY amount of exercise, has helped, so I’m on the side of GERD being the culprit.
It should be said that, most doctors say that obesity, is the cause of GERD, but my most recent bout of GERD pre-dated the weight gain, so riddle me that Batman?
In my unsolicited opinion (again, not a doctor), GERD can cause a lot of problems, including breathing issues!!