Weight gain, obesity and diabetes are becoming too common in today’s world. In some cases, these conditions can be traced back to over consumption of highly processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle. Further, there are those that maintain a healthy lifestyle yet still find themselves gaining weight and unable to lose it despite their best efforts.

Mold exposure or mold sickness can occur when a person breathes in mycotoxins from a water damaged building. Mycotoxins are a poisonous substance that specific species of mold produce, but not all mold produces mycotoxins. Mold can grow within 48 hours of water damage and anything over 50 percent humidity will accelerate its development. 

Mold can be found in many places. A person can be exposed to mycotoxins in their home, work, gym, church, a restaurant, hotel or even their car. Air conditioning units and HVAC systems are also common sources of exposure. Sometimes a physical space or, most commonly, a basement, will have a musty smell. In most cases, this is a sure indication of the presence of mold. In other situations it can be harder to identify mold, as it can hide within the walls or behind furniture. A person could be regularly exposed to mold and not even be aware of it. A person could also have an inability to detox mold and have it in their system unknowingly for years.

There are myriad mold sickness symptoms, and different people can have different reactions to mold making it highly difficult to identify mold exposure as the primary source of chronic illness and weight gain. Some common symptoms are GI issues, brain fog, fatigue, insomnia, asthma, sinus infections and weight gain. Mycotoxins cause stress in the body which can create higher cortisol levels which can lead to an increase in glucose and A1C and could result in insulin resistance and pre-diabetes.

Mold exposure can also trigger other gastrointestinal concerns such as SIBO and candida overgrowth which further imbalance the gut microbiome and alter metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain. Recurring SIBO or chronic GI symptoms such as bloating, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and food sensitivities are frequently traced back to mold exposure.

When a person experiences sudden weight gain and/or blood sugar issues without any change to diet and lifestyle, it’s possible that mold exposure could be the problem. Fortunately, a person could restore their health and lose weight simply by detoxing mold.