Drum roll please.....
The eighth and final reason you may not be losing weight, even if you're exercising and eating healthy.
Today we will look at how medications can stop you from losing weight.
This can often be a frustrating topic for many. You decided you need to improve your health, so you
start exercising, changing your eating habits and try to be disciplined. Only to see months go by with
no results. In this series you’ve learned multiple factors and today we’ll cover one of the big ones we
work on with our clients and their physician.
Let’s start by breaking down the types of medications that can contribute to weight gain and then we’ll
look more specifically at a couple categories.
Prescription drugs used to treat mood disorders, seizures, migraines, diabetes and even high blood
pressure can cause weight gain or prohibit weight loss. In addition, some steroids, hormone replacement
therapy, and oral contraceptives can also cause unwanted pounds to creep up on you.
A common one for many of our female clients is the effects of medications on your estrogen levels. The
most obvious case revolves around treating menopause where estrogen levels drop. If we utilize
prescription drugs to raise levels of estrogen it can often cause greater fat storing. Estrogen is a key
player in the fat storage business.
A good way to offset this is with the right balanced nutrition like we teach in our EAT! Nutrition program.
Not just eating healthy, but making sure you are eating the right balance of the macronutrients: protein,
carbohydrates and fats. Combine supportive nutrition with resistance training to build and maintain muscle
and you have a lot better chance maintaining testosterone levels that also plummet when estrogen levels
drop.
If you take control of the natural approach to controlling your body’s hormonal environment, then you can
work with your physician as your partner in addressing menopause while working on fat loss.
Remember from previous post in this series, we are always trying to create hormonal balance that creates
an environment conducive to fat loss. If there is a secret to fast fat loss, this is it.
The second most common medication affecting fat loss is antidepressants. The exact relationship between
antidepressants and weight gain isn't clear, but weight gain is a reported side effect of nearly all
antidepressants.
It's not possible to predict who's most likely to gain weight from taking antidepressants. However, recent
research has shown that people who gain weight within about the first week of starting antidepressant
treatment are more likely to have significant weight gain from the medication over an extended period of
time.
It's important to note that the physiological changes created by antidepressants may not be the main
contributor to weight gain. There are many factors that can work together to contribute to weight gain
during antidepressant therapy. Some people actually can lose weight as part of their depression. In other
cases, an improved appetite associated with improved mood may result in increased weight. Overeating as a
result of depression also can cause weight gain. In addition, some medical conditions that mimic depression,
such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), may cause weight gain.
It’s important to note there are many researchers who believe that an imbalance in serotonin levels may
influence mood in a way that leads to depression.
Serotonin is just one of a host of neurotransmitters secreted by the brain that regulate mood, attention,
and energy levels. Ongoing stress can deplete our serotonin reserves, leading to intense food cravings,
particularly for the refined carbohydrates that when eaten mimic the sense of well-being created by
serotonin. Persistent low serotonin levels lead to plummeting energy levels, bouts of depression, and
compulsive eating - all leading to weight gain.
Not surprisingly, experts also say some of the same strategies for eating healthy and getting enough
exercise that help us lose weight under normal circumstances, can also help us while using antidepressants.
The bottom line here is that not only can healthy eating and exercise help control your weight gain, they
can also improve your depression, which in turn may help you to cut down on your medication - and ultimately
make weight loss easier.
Medications that treat migraine headaches are also medications that affect neurotransmitters. Similarly
changes to these neurotransmitters can cause energy, mood and appetite changes potentially resulting in
weight gain.
The fourth category of medications affecting weight loss is High blood pressure medications.
Beta-blockers can cause shortness of breath and fatigue, making it difficult for patients taking them to
exercise. Calcium channel blockers taken for high blood pressure can cause you to retain water.
The exact cause of weight gain associated with some beta blockers isn't clearly understood. But it may be
due to a lower metabolic rate and reduced physical activity. In addition, if you switch from a diuretic to
a beta blocker, you may gain a few pounds of weight that the diuretic kept off.
The last category we’ll cover is corticosteroids. Corticosteroids most often use to reduce inflammations are
known to stimulate appetite while reducing the body's ability to absorb glucose, which can promote fat deposits
in the midsection.
If you are struggling to lose weight and feel like you are doing everything else right, then it may be time
to discuss your medications with your physician.
What you need to know is that certain types of medications can cause weight gain. But in almost every case,
the doctor will be able to switch you to another medication that has the same desirable effects but which will
not cause weight gain and may even help you to shed a few pounds.
Not all drugs have the same side effects for all people. You have to work with your doctor to find the
medication that's right for you.
Express your goals to your physician, so you can work together as a team to improve your overall health, not
only by addressing your current medical needs, but by taking a proactive long term approach by losing weight
and improving your fitness.
Thank you for allowing me to guide you through the health and fitness maze.
In good health,
Pete Piranio BS, CSCS
owner/Fitness Consultant
Fitness Together
Brookfield: 262.780.6350
Delafield: 262.646.5444
Wauwatosa: 414.453.9800
www.FitnessTogether.net
P.S. If you need help putting together a complete program to achieve your fitness goals and want a support
system to implement a customized plan, come see us for a complimentary introductory session and consultation.
Learn more here.
Or If you would like more information prior to scheduling a consultation, We’ve put together
a special DVD and package of information containing everything you need to make an informed decision about
the Fitness Together services. We can mail this package out to you immediately. All you have to do is go
here.
Sources:
Deshmukh, Rashmi and Kathleen Franco. "Managing Weight Gain as a Side Effect of Antidepressant Therapy."
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 70:7 (2003): 614-23. 27 Feb. 2009 <http://www.ccjm.org/content/70/7/614.full.pdf+html>.
Fenton, Wayne S. and Mark R. Chavez. "Medication-Induced Weight Gain and Dyslipidemia in Patients With Schizophrenia."
American Journal of Psychiatry 163 (2006): 1697-704. 27 Feb. 2009 <http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/6/2/246>.
"Prescription Drugs That Cause Weight Gain." Johns Hopkins Health Alert. Jun. 2008. Johns Hopkins Medicine. 27 Feb. 2009
<http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/prescription_drugs/JohnsHopkinsPrescriptionsDrugsHealthAlert_656-1.html>.
