Can losing weight be unsuccessful due to certain medications you are taking?

Yes, certain medications can make losing weight significantly harder. Some drugs affect the metabolism, the feeling of hunger or the fluid balance in a way that promotes weight gain or inhibits weight loss. This applies to a wide range of commonly used drugs, from antidepressants to blood pressure lowering medication. In this article, the most common questions about medications and weight are answered.

Which medicines can cause weight gain?

Several categories of prescription medicines are known for their effect on body weight. The most common are antidepressants, antipsychotics, corticosteroids, certain blood pressure-lowering medicines, insulin and other blood sugar-lowering medication, and antihistamines. It is not a matter of one specific medicine, but of broader therapeutic groups, each of which can affect weight through a different mechanism.

• Antidepressants and antipsychotics: Certain medicines within these groups increase appetite or lower energy expenditure, which can lead to weight gain over time.
• Corticosteroids: Long-term use of anti-inflammatory steroids can lead to fluid retention and increased fat storage, particularly around the abdomen.
• Insulin and blood sugar-lowering medicines: Some medications that regulate blood sugar stimulate fat storage as a side effect.
• Beta-blockers: These blood pressure lowering medications can slow down the metabolism and reduce energy expenditure during exercise.
• Antihistamines Certain allergy medications, particularly older generations, can increase appetite via their action on the central nervous system.

It is important to emphasise that not everyone who takes these medicines puts on weight. The extent of the effect varies per person and depends on the dosage, the duration of use, and individual factors such as genetics and lifestyle.

How exactly do medicines make losing weight more difficult?

Medicines can affect weight through various biological mechanisms. The most common routes are increased appetite, slowed metabolism, fluid retention and altered fat storage. Each of these mechanisms, individually or in combination, can cause losing weight becomes more difficult, even in people who are mindful of their diet and exercise.

Some medicines act on neurotransmitters in the brain, such as serotonin or dopamine, which also play a role in regulating hunger and satiety. When these systems are affected, the feeling of fullness can occur later or be less strong, causing people to eat more without consciously realising it.

Other medicines lower the basal metabolic rate, the number of calories the body burns at rest. This means that someone with the exact same diet as before the medication will still gain weight, simply because the body uses less energy. Fluid retention caused by corticosteroids or certain blood pressure lowering medications leads to a higher reading on the scales, but this is not an increase in fat, even though the weight feels different.

How do you know if your weight gain is caused by medication or other causes?

The distinction between medication-related weight gain and other causes is not always easy to make without medical supervision. A strong indicator is when weight begins to increase shortly after starting or increasing a medication, without any changes in diet or exercise. Even so, this is not proof in itself, as lifestyle, hormones and other factors can also play a role.

Some questions that can help in estimating the cause:

• Did the weight gain start within a few weeks of starting a new medication?
• Is there a noticeable increase in appetite or a change in how hungry you feel?
• Is there any fluid retention, such as swollen ankles or a bloated feeling?
• Are there other explanations, such as a changed sleep pattern, increased stress or less exercise?

A doctor can help to find the cause. Keeping a diary of weight, eating habits and medication use can provide useful information. Never diagnose yourself based on suspicion alone.

Can you just stop taking medication to lose weight more easily?

No, it is not wise to stop taking prescribed medication on your own initiative, not even if weight gain is a side effect. Many medications must not be stopped abruptly without medical supervision, as this can lead to serious side effects or a relapse of the condition for which they were prescribed.

Antidepressants and antipsychotics in most cases require gradual tapering under medical supervision. Corticosteroids can cause adrenal insufficiency if stopped abruptly. Blood pressure-lowering medications should not be stopped suddenly because of the risk of a sudden rise in blood pressure.

Anyone who suspects that medication is contributing to weight gain would be wise to discuss this with the prescribing doctor. In some cases, it is possible to switch to an alternative medicine within the same therapeutic category that has less effect on weight. This is always a trade-off that a doctor makes based on the individual situation.

What are the options if medications adversely affect your weight?

There are several options for people whose medication negatively affects their weight. The first step is always a discussion with the treating physician about the side effect. After that, depending on the situation, different paths are possible: adjusting the dosage, switching to an alternative medicine, or additional guidance aimed at weight management.

Alongside adjustments to medication, targeted lifestyle coaching can help to compensate for the effects. Think of nutritional advice that takes a slowed metabolism into account, or exercise advice that is achievable given the condition in question. In some cases, a doctor may also consider additional medical support, such as guidance on weight loss through a separate programme.

It is realistic to expect that weight loss while using medication may take more time and effort than without. That does not mean it is impossible, but it does mean that the approach must be adapted to the specific situation.

How Wellumo helps with weight loss

For people who struggle to lose weight, including when medication use plays a part, Wellumo offers medical supervision via an online programme. BIG-registered doctors assess the individual situation and determine whether treatment is appropriate and safe. Not everyone is eligible; the assessment is always personal and medically substantiated.

What Wellumo offers:

• A virtual GP consultation where a doctor assesses the situation
• Weight loss support via GLP-1 medication, following approval by a doctor
• Transparent pricing information beforehand, with no hidden costs
• Discrete shipping of medication following approval by a doctor and pharmacy
• A 45-day refund policy on selected treatment pathways

Results vary per person and treatment is only started after careful medical assessment. Would you like to know if a Wellumo programme might be suitable for you? Then start the Medical intake or view how the trajectory works. If you have any questions, it is also possible to to contact met Wellumo.