If You Can't Lose Weight, This Could Be Why

Specialist Dr. Özgün İyigün, noting that one in five people experience food intolerance, warned: "If tests reveal no underlying cause for situations such as inability to lose weight despite dieting, constant drowsiness, skin rashes, and itching, food intolerance should be considered and an intolerance test should be performed." Providing explanations on food intolerance, Medicana Ataşehir Hospital Internal Medicine Specialist Uzm. Dr. Özgün İyigün emphasized that this condition, which involves impaired intestinal integrity among its symptoms, should not be confused with food allergy. Noting that food intolerance can develop as a result of unnecessary antibiotic use, medications, poor nutrition, alcohol, food additives, stress, allergic predisposition, incomplete digestion of foods, and consumption of multiple allergenic foods simultaneously, Uzm. Dr. Özgün İyigün stated: "Intolerance can occur as a result of genetic predisposition from birth, or it can develop over time or subsequently to foods we consume daily. Food intolerance is currently seen in one in five people."

Intestinal problems are among the symptoms

Explaining the symptoms of food intolerance, Uzm. Dr. İyigün noted: "In cases of unexplained intestinal problems, gas, indigestion, bloating, headache, fatigue, weakness, depression, mood disturbances, muscle and joint pain, inability to lose weight despite dieting, constant drowsiness, skin rashes, and itching, if tests reveal no underlying cause, food intolerance should be considered and a food intolerance test should be performed. Foods found to cause intolerance can lead to metabolic slowdown."

How is it diagnosed?

Uzm. Dr. İyigün reported that food intolerance tests investigate IgG (immunoglobulin G) type antibodies produced by the body against food. İyigün explained: "Following test results, foods found to cause intolerance are eliminated from the diet for a period to allow immune cells to forget this allergenic food, and it is then gradually reintroduced to the diet at specific intervals and in a controlled manner. If intolerance to multiple foods is detected, after the elimination period—the period during which prohibited foods are not consumed—each food substance should be added back to the diet one by one. Food intolerance is not a permanent condition. Foods found to cause intolerance do not need to be avoided for life. In food allergy tests, however, the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody produced by the body against food is investigated; in food allergies, foods are removed from the diet and never consumed again."