I hear and see a lot of mention of weight gain as a side effect of some medications. I believe it happens but I’ve never understood how it works. For example, could an athlete who eats perfectly still be struck by weight gain as a side effect? What’s the biological mechanism that would make weight gain happen in a person with a healthy balanced diet?
I’ve taken a medication for years that a doctor just told me they’d rather never raise the dose on because it can cause metabolic syndrome. My A1C, cholesterol, and virtually the rest of my labs were in the healthy range, but I have noticed some weight on me that seemed oddly persistent. My diet ranges from average to healthy nowadays and I’m moderately active. Yet I can think back to a time before the medication when I was eating horribly, never exercised, smoked and drank nonstop, and my labs were looking nasty – yet my extremely consistent max weight was a solid 20lbs under what it is today which a noticeably better lifestyle all around. I’m by no means the athlete in the perfect diet example, I’m more fascinated by how something like that is even possible. Definitely interesting.
In: Biology
If you’re looking for an answer besides medication being able to affect metabolism or water retention it’ll go beyond Eli5 and I suggest another sub that can explain open the intricate biochemical processes going on in your body and how certain substances can affect that. It’s very complex though so be ready to google a lot of the terms people will use
Basically certain meds mess with your hormones and metabolism, making your body hold onto more calories than usual. It’s like your body’s thermostat for weight regulation gets a bit off. Even if you’re doing all the right things like eating well and staying active, the medication might still cause your body to store extra weight.
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