I was reading an article about why it was easier to be thin in the 1980s than it is today. The article discussed a research paper written in part by Jennifer Kuk, a professor of kinesiology and health science at Toronto’s York University. In the paper, Kuk suggested that one reason people are more obese today may have to do with medications.

So I did some research and there seems to be some agreement that medications can cause weight gain. Since more people are taking medications today, it makes some sense that medications may be blamed for increases in weight. The reasons may be best stated by an article on GoodRX:

Here are five main reasons for medication-related weight gain:

• Increased appetite: Some drugs, like certain steroids and antidepressants, can stimulate your appetite, so you eat more. If you’re not changing anything else about your diet or exercise activity, this can lead to extra pounds.
• Fluid retention: Some drugs like the diabetes drug, pioglitazone, make the body hold onto more salt, which in turn leads to water build up. So it’s not fat that’s causing weight gain; it’s water.
• Increased fat storage: Some drugs increase weight by affecting how much fat you can store. One example is insulin. Insulin is a growth hormone, which means it stimulates the body to create tissues, including fat cells.
• Slowed metabolism: Some drugs (like beta-blockers for high blood pressure) can cause the body’s metabolism to slow down, which means that calories are not burned as quickly.
• Difficulty exercising: Then there are drugs that make it more difficult to get up and exercise, so you burn fewer calories each day. Some antihistamines can make you sleepy, so you don’t feel like exercising. Others drugs — like amitriptyline and similar antidepressants — can make it more difficult to breath, so it’s harder to exercise.

Not all weight gain is caused by medications, of course. In determining whether your weight gain may have been caused by medications, your health care provide may look at the list of medication you are taking to see if any of them are known to cause weight gain. They may also look at your prior weight in your previous medical records. If your weight gain corresponds to the time you started the medications, then there is a good chance that the medications were partially responsible for your weight gain.

What can you do about weight gain caused my medications? An article by the University of Rochester Medical Center, suggest that there are a couple of treatment options you might have.

Treatment will depend on the situation. In some cases, your healthcare provider will recommend switching to another medicine that’s not as likely to cause weight gain. This is especially likely if you have gained a lot of weight and your health is affected.

In other cases, it may not be possible to stop taking the medicine that is causing your weight gain. There might not be another medicine available that can effectively treat your symptoms. For example, people with certain mental health problems might do well with only 1 or 2 medicines. In that case, you might be able to switch to a lower dose of the medicine.

The article notes that you still may be able to hove choices even if you need to keep taking the medications:

Your provider may advise that you see a dietitian and possibly a psychologist to help you learn to make better eating choices. Getting more exercise can also help treat weight gain. Limiting your portion sizes and eating more slowly at meals can also help. Your provider can give you more tips about your weight-loss choices.

You should never stop taking medications without consulting your health care providers.

If you are carrying some extra pounds and are taking medications, talk to your doctor then next time you see him or her. Have your doctor check to see if there is any connection between your weight and your medications.

Sources:

https://www.goodrx.com/blog/medications-cause-weight-gain-side-effect/

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=56&contentid=DM300