Hey there, everyone. Weight gain is no fun. That’s the understatement of the year. Those
of us who have experienced a dramatic increase in body fat can attest to this. While most
people attribute weight gain to diet, there are other factors involved. Try medication
for example. Prescribed medicine we consume in our daily lives can have a profound effect
on our body. Let’s discuss 7 Medications That Are Making
You Gain Weight. Are you by chance taking steroids? How about antidepressants? Wait…
Not my precious sleeping pills! We’re talking all that AND more…
Sleeping Pills Let’s kick things off with the one that
may alarm you the most. Between 50 to 70 million Americans are currently suffering from sleeping
disorders. As a result, the use of sleeping pills and other sleep inducing substances
are rampant throughout the United States. Around 4% of adults report using sleep medication
in order to get proper rest. While there are several side effects of using sleeping pills,
weight gain is among the most notable. Studies have shown that sleeping pills are
associated with something known as “sleep eating”. Have you ever heard of this phenomenon?
Also known as a parasomnia, sleep eating describes the undesired urge to eat after waking up
in the middle of the night. In most cases, you are partially awake and have little to
no memory of what you did. This leads to fatigue throughout the day,
as well as lazy behaviour. These issues assist your weight gain. What’s even worse is that
in many ways, it’s a lose/lose situation. Yes, sleep meds are known to cause weight
gain. But lack of sleep can lead you down the same road. My advice would be to consult
a medical expert. Do you find this video interesting so far?
Well strap in because we’ve got more on the way. Before we continue, don’t forget
to subscribe to our channel. Hit that like button and ring the notification bell to stay
up to date on all our great Bestie videos. Birth Control
Weight gain has long been a suspected side effect of birth control. Whether it lasts
for a long period of time, or fluctuates back and forth, studies from the 1960’s show
that birth control did in fact cause you to shoot up in pounds. However, these studies
have been dismissed as a product of their time.
50 years ago, birth control pills were loaded with estrogen. If consumed in high doses,
estrogen can result in dramatic mood swings that lead to emotional eating. If you were
using birth control at this time, you may have gained a significant amount of weight.
Fast forward to today, numerous studies have shown no significant proof that birth control
pills trigger weight gain. Any weight that is gained during this time is normally lost
within two to three months. Antidepressants
Much like sleeping pills, antidepressants are something an unhealthy amount of people
depend on. As of 2018, at least 25 million U.S. adults were using antidepressants over
a span of 2 years. If you are among these folks, you need to be weary of the side effects,
one of them being weight gain. Did you know that if you suffer from depression,
you are 58% more likely to become obese? This normally due to the medications you are taking.
Meds such as zoloft, celexa and paxil are three prime examples.
If the meds are not what’s making you gain, your lifestyle will be. Depression strips
away much of your motivation. As a result, you are often left overeating.
If you are currently taking antidepressants and notice you have packed on a few, try switching
to a healthier diet. This way, you can counter the side effects and decrease your chances
of packing on the pounds. Steroids
While this is not what usually comes to mind when you hear the word ‘medication’, steroids
do count. Most of us associate the substance with performance enhancement, when in fact,
they serve as so much more. Steroids are a synthetic drug resembling cortisol, a natural
hormone produced by your body. They work by decreasing inflammation, as well as the activity
of your immune system. Steroids are known to treat conditions like
lupus and arthritis. But with their benefits can also come weight gain. Prednisone and
cortisone steroids cause this as well as water retention. This can increase your appetite.
Steroids can affect your metabolism, which also contributes to your weight shooting up.
If you are not burning calories as quickly, you're going to get bigger. Keep in mind that
major weight gain is usually seen with higher doses.
If you are taking steroids, or considering them as an option, you need to be sure that
you’re taking the proper dosage. Make sure you are in contact with your doctor.
Are you concerned about weight while quarantining? When you're isolated for a long period of
time, you can lose track of your health. Check out our recent video discussing 9 Ways You
Can Prevent Weight Gain During Self-Isolation. Now back to our discussion on 7 Medications
That Make You Gain Weight. Insulin
This is something we’re hearing about more these days. The global prevalence of diabetes
among adults has increased from 4.5% in 1980 to 8.5% in 2014. Insulin is a hormone made
by your pancreas. Without it, your body won’t be able to turn sugar into energy. Since people
with diabetes are unable to produce insulin naturally, they require insulin medications
to maintain. Once taken, the insulin is meant to reduce
the sugar level within your bloodstream, and help your body’s tissues function properly.
But certain diabetes medications have been linked to weight gain. These include Avandia,
Actos and Glucotrol. Another factor to consider is your diet before
beginning insulin therapy. Diabetics often have extremely poor eating habits. Unfortunately,
this doesn’t change once they get proper treatment. Your medication within an unhealthy
diet can also result in significant weight gain.
If you’re taking insulin meds and notice a difference on the scale, it’s important
not to take yourself off the medications. Yes, your weight may decrease. But you risk
further health complications as your diabetic symptoms worsen.
If you’re at risk of diabetes and do not yet require insulin medication, try making
drastic lifestyle improvements. This includes changes to your diet as well as frequent exercise.
There are so many healthy meal choices for you to consider. Not to mention easy workouts
you can complete in a half hour timespan. Antihistamines
For most, summertime means fun. For some, it means a whole lot of unpleasant allergies.
With summer right around the corner, many of these people will be taking medications
to combat them. Antihistamines are drugs used to treat allergies.
They work by blocking histamines, a chemical released by your body to fight reactions.
When you have an allergic reaction, your body will sometimes release too much histamine.
As a result, you’re left with symptoms such as itchiness or a runny nose.
Unbeknownst to many are the side effects of allergy meds. Did you know a common side effect
of antihistamine treatment is weight gain? A study from 2012 showed that those who took
antihistamines such as Benydril and Allegra weighed between 4 to 9 pounds more than those
who didn’t. As it turns out, the cause is a common one
among medications. Blocking histamines can boost your appetite. If you are taking large
amounts of medicine for your condition, you may feel the urge to eat more than you should.
If an antihistamine is only taken on a short-term basis, your weight gain won’t be as significant.
Beta Blockers Are you familiar with this type of medication?
For the sake of simplicity, let’s just say beta blockers are medications used to treat
high blood pressure. They work by blocking the effects of adrenaline. In turn, your heart
will beat at a slower pace. Many of those who take beta blocking treatment
do not anticipate weight gain as a side effect. As your heart rate lowers, so does your metabolism.
This means that it won’t be working as hard to break down your food and burn calories.
Along with a slower metabolism, beta blockers also bring on fatigue. With less energy throughout
the day, you won’t feel as inclined to do anything. This can encourage you to eat more
while sitting around. Who doesn’t like a good bag of chips while laying on the couch
and watching TV. One of the best ways to combat this effect
is by eating healthier and following an active workout regimen. You can also consult your
doctor about changing up medications. Did you find this video useful? Have you experienced
weight gain from any of these meds? Let us know in the comments below. We would love
to hear from you!