Why do antidepressants make you fat?

When it comes to drugs, there should always be clear indications for their consumption by a specialist who has made a prior evaluation.

If this does not occur, then some side effects could occur in the subject, and even despite medical supervision they may begin to appear. In the case of antidepressants, it is confirmed that one of these unwanted effects is an unusual weight gain in the subject.

In this article we will address the question: Why do antidepressants make you fat?. To do this, we will review the results of a longitudinal study published in the British Medical Journal, and We will see how these drugs can have this effect on the human body, as well as some ways to prevent it.

• Related article: "Types of antidepressants: characteristics and effects"

The relationship between antidepressants and obesity

As we mentioned before, it was a longitudinal study (a long-term study) which could give us the answer as to why antidepressants make you fat. This study consisted of a population sample made up of 294,719 subjects between the ages of 20 and over, all of them from the United Kingdom between 2004 and 2014.

The research was led by Dr. Rafael Gafoor and other specialists from King's College in the City of London. In the results of this investigation, evidence emerged of a clear incidence of antidepressants in terms of long-term weight gain, in people who use this type of drug.

Within this study there were other variables apart from the simple use of the drug, such as; age, suffering from some types of specific diseases such as diabetes or cancer, tobacco consumption, the use of other medications simultaneously, among some others ...

About the results of the study

The results show that regardless of the variables mentioned above, there is a constant when weight gain atypically originates in the subject, and it is the use of some of the best-selling antidepressant drugs in the United Kingdom. Let's see what they are:

• Mirtazapine
• Duloxetine
• Sertraline
• Venlafaxine
• Citalopram
• Fluoxetine
• Escitalopram
• Trazodone
• Amitriptyline
• Paroxetine
• Nortriptyline
• Dosulepin

Of these 12 drugs, some more than others showed a higher incidence in terms of weight gain on the part of their consumers. However, they are all implicated in long-term atypical weight gain.

However, study results were not definitive. They found that, although there is a proven level of incidence of these drugs towards the trend of gaining weight on the part of consumers, The cause of why antidepressants generate this weight gain remains unclear, although there are several factors that enter into play. Let's see them.

Possible causes of weight gain

Weight gain caused by taking these drugs could actually be due to side effects, like these.

1. Relaxing effect on the subject

The relaxation effect that these drugs produce in those who consume them means that the subject can generate sedentary behaviors, which is a risk factor for obesity.

2. Antidepressants stimulate the appetite

This type of drug has shown a positive relationship in terms of increased appetite in people, especially with regard to the consumption of sweets and refined flours, two things that make you gain a lot of weight.

If we make a simple equation, and add these two situations (less physical activity + greater consumption of sweets and flours), the result translates into a higher fat index in the body, especially accumulated in the abdominal area, which generates the belly.

Ways to prevent this effect

Some effective ways of prevention can be the following.

1. Keep a check on your weight

Keeping track of the weight changes that you could be presenting will help you realize that something is happening and that you should take action on the matter. Also, after you have analyzed the situation, you should continue to weigh yourself almost daily to avoid relapses.

2. Outdoor physical activity

Regardless of what physical activity you do, The important thing is that you do it with enthusiasm and that you notice the physical wear while doing it. Jogging for 10 minutes is a good alternative to keep fit.

3. Include salads in your diet

Looking for salad recipes and starting to add these to your menu will help greatly to reduce the amount of fat you accumulate. This salad-based menu is recommended while you are taking antidepressants. After finishing the treatment you could continue to include these in your meals, but not so rigorously.

Bibliographic references:

• Gafoor R et al. (2018). Antidepressant utilization and incidence of weight gain during 10 years' follow-up: Population based cohort study. British Medical Journal, 2018; 361: k1951.
• Woo, Y. S., Seo, H-J., McIntyre, R. S. and Bahk, W. M. (2016). Obesity and Its Potential Effects on Antidepressant Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Depressive Disorders: A Literature Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 17(1): 80.