Taking an antidepressant medication can cause weight gain but there are ways to prevent it or lose weight.
People who take an antidepressant for depression commonly battle with the side-effect of weight gain. According to the article Fat Pharms: Antidepressants and Weight Gain by Colette Bouchez on WebMD, 25% of people who use an antidepressant gain weight. Surprisingly, researchers aren't really sure why weight gain is a side-effect. For people suffering from depression, it is imperative that they take their antidepressant medication to relieve their symptoms. Unfortunately, many people stop taking their medication because of the weight gain side-effect. Understanding how the more popular antidepressants work and ways to help control weight gain may be the answer to living comfortably while taking antidepressants.
Instructions
1. Understanding Popular Antidepressants - The most common antidepressants on the market today, such as Zoloft, **** and Prozac, are referred to as SSRI antidepressants. SSRI stands for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Serotonin is one of the brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, which can affect mood or behavior. SSRI's relieve depression by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin by other nerve cells in the brain. This allows more serotonin in the brain and helps to enhance mood and relieve the symptoms of depression. Unfortunately, these same medications have negative affects on weight.
2. Increased Appetite and Lower Metabolism - Researchers aren't exactly sure why people experience weight gain on SSRI antidepressants but they think two factors are responsible, increased appetite and a lower metabolism. While taking antidepressants, some people experience an increase in their appetite and cravings for high carbohydrate foods. Doctors believe that this increase in appetite is due to the fact the person feels better and enjoys eating again. Unfortunately, antidepressants also lower the metabolism which causes the person to burn fewer calories, even while exercising. But there are ways to counterbalance these effects.
3. Eat Smart to Lose Weight - Even with an increased appetite, by choosing the right foods you can lose weight. Eating fruits will satisfy your cravings for sweets without all the empty calories. Adding more vegetables to your diet helps to fill you up and leave you satisfied while being low calorie. Also, eat foods rich in fiber, such as beans, lentils and whole grains. Fiber digests slowly and leaves you feeling satisfied longer. All these foods are healthy and filling without all the calories of fatty or sugary foods.
4. Add Calcium and Vitamin D - Studies have shown that people who get enough calcium and vitamin D lose weight easier and build lean muscle instead of fat more easily. There is also proof that having the proper amount of vitamin D reduces the risk of depression. Eat low-fat dairy products and drink low-fat milk to get the recommended daily allowance of 500 milligrams of calcium. Spending 15 minutes each day in the sun will give you the daily recommended 500 IUs of vitamin D. If you are unable to spend time in the sun, you can get your vitamin D by eating salmon, tuna, shrimp, yogurts, fortified cereals and fortified milk. Supplements are also available for both calcium and vitamin D, but ask your doctor before taking them.
5. Build Lean Muscle - A body that has not only makes you look and feel better, but muscle burns more calories than fat does. Try strength training with weights for 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week.
6. Get Up and Get Moving - Doing some form of exercise will not only raise your spirits but also help you lose or avoid gaining weight. Take a walk with your dog, swim or go biking with the kids. Remember, since antidepressants slow down the metabolism, it will take more exercise than before to lose the same amount of weight. If you already have an exercise program, try adding a few more minutes to it each time or work a little harder. This will get your heart pumping and boost your metabolism so you can burn calories.
7. Ask Your Doctor about Changing Medications - Different antidepressant medications affect people differently. If you are unable to lose weight on your medication, talk to your doctor about possibly changing it. You may be able to find an antidepressant that relieves your symptoms of depression without the weight gain side-effects.
Tags: weight gain, lose weight, antidepressant medication, calcium vitamin, gain side-effect, increased appetite, lean muscle
