Losing weight helps in many issues, but will losing weight help diastasis recti?
Considering that weight loss helps in several issues like improving your mobility, reducing joint pains, and regulating blood sugar, many people conclude that weight loss is the solution to weight loss.
But is it, really? Parental Questions is here to answer you.
Do You Have Diastasis Recti
First things first, do you have a proper diagnosis of diastasis recti? You need to consult a qualified physical therapist for a correct diagnosis.
However, you can watch out for symptoms to determine whether you have diastasis recti. These include:
- Hip pain
- Pelvic pain
- Low back pain
- Constipation
- Pain during sex
- Urinary incontinence
Will Losing Weight Help Diastasis Recti
Pregnancy comes with several issues for different people. Some people add weight while others don’t.
Others get diastasis recti, which is the separation of abdominal muscles.
Luckily, you can lose weight postpartum. This will help you get your previous body shape and lose the potbelly.
However, losing weight might not help heal diastasis recti, which is more than just a saggy skin portion on your belly.
Healing diastasis recti requires more time, patience, exercises, and sometimes, surgery—workout routines like crunches, planks, bridges, pelvic tilts, and toe taps.
1. Will My Diastasis Recti Go Away If I Lose Weight?
Unfortunately, losing weight alone will not help in healing diastasis recti. The issue of separated muscles needs more than the shedding of a few pounds.
You are usually left with more saggy skin around your belly when you lose weight. This can, of course, make you feel worse about the diastasis recti.
While exercise can help strengthen your abdominal muscles, invasive surgery is usually the only solution to fixing the physical issue of muscle separation.
The surgery, referred to as a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, will involve removing extra skin and fat in your abdominal area.
2. What Is the Fastest Way To Fix Diastasis Recti?
Unfortunately, there is no fast way to fix diastasis recti. While an invasive surgical procedure is an option, it is usually performed as a last result.
Experts only recommend using surgery to heal diastasis recti if working out and using a supportive band doesn’t help.
With exercise, though, it could take you anywhere from 6 to 12 months to heal diastasis recti.
This timeline is not definitive and will vary from one individual to another.
3. Can Being Overweight Cause Diastasis Recti?
Yes, being overweight can cause diastasis recti. That’s because the extra weight your body and belly have adds extra pressure on the muscles around your stomach.
Apart from being overweight, you can also get diastasis recti from:
- Lifting weights wrongly
- Changing weight rapidly
- Frequent weight changes
- From anything that exerts pressure on your abdomen’s muscles
Learn more about diastasis recti: Can Diastasis Recti Cause Bowel Problems
If you are hoping to lose weight and wondering will losing weight help diastasis recti, the answer is both yes and no.
Losing weight will help reduce the excess pressure on your abdomen. However, the separation of the muscles that causes diastasis recti is more than a physical issue.
Losing weight will not reconnect the muscles. In fact, it might leave you with more saggy skin around your abdomen.
The best solution to helping diastasis recti is to exercise with the help of a physical therapist.
You can also opt for a tummy tuck when nonsurgical solutions don’t work.
Iesha is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children. She’s an active parent who enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family. Her mission is to share practical and realistic parenting advice to help the parenting community becoming stronger.
