(HealthDay News) -- Inflammatory bowel disease refers to a group of varied disorders affecting the intestines. Symptoms may include pain or bloating in the intestines, diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, bloody stools and loss of appetite.

While doctors don't know for sure what causes IBD, the U.S. National Women's Health Information Center offers this list of possible contributing factors:

• An overreacting immune system.


• Having a family history of the disease.


• Although foods don't actually cause IBD, some things we eat are thought to make symptoms worse.