Weight Gain From Food Allergies

I’m at my favorite blow-dry salon.  Within an hour, I will be renewed and transformed.   As I meld into the lounge chair at the shampooing area, I’m at the mercy of my handsome stylist, Dane, whose strong fingers massage deep conditioner into my hair.  I’m so relaxed, I could fall asleep.

My zen moment is interrupted suddenly as two women plop themselves into the two empty chairs next to me.These ladies want an audience.  The woman closest to me declared, “I’m probably the only woman in Southern California who gets her hair blown-out before seeing her personal trainer, but it’s mandatory.  My trainer is SO HOT!”

Dane and I catch each other grinning, as she continued. “The competition at my gym is fierce and I have to look my best for this guy.   I just wish I wasn’t 20 pounds overweight.  Can you believe I’ve gained 20 pounds?  Do you know how I gained it?  It’s from a food allergy!”

Inconspicuously rolling my eyes, I smirk and think to myself,  “A 20-pound weight gain from a food allergy?  Yeah, right.  Now I’ve heard everything!”

In spite of this seemingly ridiculous excuse, I decide to do my research.  I learn that weight gain, bloating, and general malaise associated with eating certain foods, is related to a food sensitivity, not necessarily an allergy.  For a host of reasons, certain foods trigger inflammation in some people, which can cause everything from a slight weight gain from bloating, to joint pain and even headaches.  Common culprits include lactose, the sugar found in milk or dairy products and gluten, the main protein found in wheat and a few other grains.  Some doctors say that a food allergy is more likely to cause the opposite reaction–weight loss.  Bloating is possible, but this is more of a digestive issue.  It’s possible, but highly unlikely, that a 20-pound weight gain is caused by a food allergy.  Food gets blamed for a lot of things, and often it’s as simple as making some dietary changes to feel better.

If I run into that woman again at the salon, perhaps I’ll suggest she ditch the food allergy excuse and inform her “hot” trainer to kick it up a notch, even if it ruins her blowout.  Have you ever experienced a food allergy that caused you to gain weight?