Can an infection cause temporary weight gain?
 

At the end of December I had an infection in my intestines (I have diverticulitis) and in the week and a half/two weeks I was sick the scale went from 268-274! How can you gain 6lbs in two weeks? I was tracking my food and I had a few days where I went over budget but nothing that would cause anything more than maintaining my current weight.

Now that the infection's mostly cleared up, I'm going back down fairly quickly (about two weeks later and I'm down to around 270) which is why I suspect being sick as the cause.

Is this normal?

Anything ending in "itis" is an inflammatory infection and can most definitely cause water gain. Yes, it's completely normal. Even tonsillitis can cause weight gain.

Originally Posted by Jesse Taylor:
Anything ending in "itis" is an inflammatory infection and can most definitely cause water gain. Yes, it's completely normal. Even tonsillitis can cause weight gain.

you took the words right out of my mouth! I have Crohns disease and when I have a flare I always gain weight. Inflammation causes swelling and water gain. I guess it is our bodies way of healing. Also if they gave you a steroid type medicine to help clear it up- that really explains it.
I hope you feel better;)

Thanks guys! I had no idea if it was normal or if I should recalculate my daily intake.