Yes, You Can Lose Weight With Fibroids. Here’s How

Fibroids and Weight Gain

Of the many fibroid statistics, one of the most staggering is that about 80 percent of people assigned female at birth (AFAB) will have uterine fibroids at some point, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And while they don’t always cause symptoms, some fibroids can grow pretty large and heavy (think: watermelon size) and make the scale go up.

“As fibroids themselves grow, their weight increases. Some fibroids can grow similar in size to a full-term baby. Such large fibroids can actually be visibly protruding from the abdomen,” says Yana Markidan, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn with Antheia Gynecology in East Windsor, New Jersey.

Uterine fibroids can also cause heavy bleeding, which could possibly lead to anemia. And anemia can actually be a weight-gain culprit. Iron-deficiency anemia is a condition when your blood lacks enough iron to make healthy red blood cells, per the Office on Women’s Health (OWH). Your body needs iron to help carry oxygen through your blood to various parts of your body to keep it functioning. And according to the University of New Mexico, you need sufficient oxygen to burn calories and fat.

What’s more: “Weight gain can be a result of overeating in women with fibroids,” says registered dietitian Ashley Kravitz, RD, owner and CEO of Nutrition Specialists of New Jersey. “The overeating can be a result of anemia from significant blood loss. This may also decrease their exercise because their iron deficiency makes them extremely lethargic.”

Weakness, shortness of breath and dizziness are also common symptoms of anemia, according to the OWH.

How to Lose Weight With Fibroids

When it comes to weight loss in general — whether or not you have fibroids — slow and steady is the way to go. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends aiming to lose no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. And rather than crash diets or detoxes, it’s better to use sustainable methods that allow you to maintain your weight loss over time.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Count (and Cut) Your Calories

To lose weight, you’ll need to burn more calories than you take in on a daily basis — in other words, you’ll create a calorie deficit. The CDC recommends finding your maintenance calories (the amount you’re currently eating to maintain your weight) and subtracting between 500 and 1,000 calories per day.

There are a few ways to do this, but the easiest is to use a calorie-tracking app, which will help you figure out the right calorie target based on factors like your current weight, age, activity level and weight-loss goal.

Keep in mind that you shouldn’t fall below 1,200 calories a day if you’re AFAB, according to Harvard Health Publishing, or you’ll put yourself at risk for nutritional deficiencies and other issues.

2. Adjust Your Diet

Calories aren’t everything, though. To support a healthier body, you need a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods from all the food groups, according to the CDC.

Choose nutritious foods like:

• Lean meats and fish
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Whole grains like oats, barley and brown rice
• Healthy fats like avocado and olive oil

And limit or avoid the following:

• Alcohol
• Trans fats in fast food and processed baked goods
• Added sugars (check ingredient labels)
• Refined carbs like white bread and white rice
• Soy-based products (think: soymilk, tofu)

Red meat should be very limited as well, per the Mayo Clinic, as it may be linked to a higher risk of fibroid growth.

“There are some studies that show diets rich in green leafy vegetables help to slow down fibroid growth,” says Dr. Markidan. “And diets rich in red meat can increase fibroid growth.”

As for soy products: “I would recommend avoiding foods that have an effect on estrogen such as soy-based products because they can have an impact on this hormone-related issue as well,” Kravitz says.