Medication may contribute to gaining weight,

and that's ok.

Taking medication can be a taboo topic. We are often ashamed of the medication we may take, but I think it’s time to open the dialogue. I've been taking antidepressants off & on for the last 20 years. It's been necessary for my mental health.

There are points where we have to decide if we are ok with first addressing our mental health and medications that may significantly improve our mental health and the fact that may mean a short, temporary pause on fat loss goals because of that change in medication.

I've attempted calorie deficits while taking meds. One was a few years ago while I was in private practice. My stress was tremendously high, my sleep was restless, and I was significantly unhappy. I was taking an antidepressant, & the scale seemed to be moving in the opposite direction. As I started taking the medication (and found a way out of private practice), I started to feel happier and the looming cloud over my head seemed to dwindle. 

At that moment I had to recognize that this was far better than weight loss.

Come this year, where the pandemic, having a baby, a dreary winter, and a host of new life events happened. I put off getting back on my antidepressant because I was convinced I could handle it independently. But there are some things we can’t tackle on our own. Finally, I started taking an antidepressant again and all I could think was that I wish I would have started it sooner. I tried to eat in a deficit but wasn’t seeing progress. However, losing weight was the least of my concerns. I'd felt more level-headed than I had in a year.

In reviewing my medication’s side effects, I learned it has the potential to increase weight gain. This is common for many antidepressants, antipsychotics, & mood stabilizers. It's not unusual for meds that help manage diabetes, inflammation, seizures, migraines, blood pressure, allergies, among other conditions. 

But here’s the thing: rarely does a medication radically alter our metabolism. More often, medication may allow us to regain our appetites, find more joy in food, be more social, etc.  

From the University of Rochester Medical Center: 

"Medicine-related weight gain can have many causes. Some medicines might stimulate your appetite. This causes you to eat more and gain extra weight. Some medicines might affect your body’s metabolism. This causes your body to burn calories at a slower rate. Some medicines might cause you to retain water. This makes you weigh more even if you don't put on extra fat. Other medicines might affect how your body stores and absorbs sugars and other nutrients. If a medicine causes you to be tired or have shortness of breath, you might be less likely to exercise. This can cause you to gain weight."

The takeaway: starting a medication does not automatically mean you will gain weight.

When we start working with a new client, we get information about if they are taking any medications, as it’s relevant to their nutritional approach. I feel pleased for a client who is addressing their mental health through education as needed, and we discuss that their goals still can be realized, but their mental health is always a priority. 

On the flip side, I will often be working with a client who is starting a medication and has a fear that it will automatically make them gain weight. That is just not always the case! I’ve had many clients start antidepressants and live in the fear week after week because they’re not gaining weight and are just waiting for it to happen. 

One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to eliminate the fixed mindset that medication means weight gain and to instead shift our focus to prioritizing our mental health so that our physical health can follow.

I think it's important to realize losing weight as a VALID goal is still possible while taking medication. But sometimes, we need to reprioritize and recognize that the benefits of stable mental health outweigh the desire to lose weight. I would rather weigh more and be happy than weigh less and be miserable. Being thinner does not equate to happiness or health. So, take your meds.

Note: A great resource for better understanding which medications have been shown to have an impact on body weight and weight changes is The Fat Loss Prescription by Dr. Spencer Nadolsky. The last few chapters of the book detail specific medications and their side effects. You can find the free Kindle version here.

A More Important Note: We are not doctors. This information is meant to empower and educate, but shouldn’t be used to make any medical decisions without insight and direction from your doctor.

For an individualized approach to your nutrition that takes into account not only your goals, but your dieting history, life, and lifestyle, learn more about our 1:1 Flexible Nutrition Coaching.