Obesity antidepressants can cause weight gain

How do antidepressants affect weight??

Today, more and more people are being treated with antidepressants. Among other things, this raises the question of how the intake of these drugs affects the weight? Researchers now found that the increasing use of antidepressants could contribute to a long-term weight gain of the population.

The researchers at King's College London found in their recent research that taking antidepressants often leads to weight gain. The experts warn that the increasingly prescribed drugs could contribute to an obesity epidemic. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "British Medical Journal" (BMJ).

Many people in Germany are overweight. Physicians have found that taking antidepressants favors overweight and obesity. (Image: Kurhan / fotolia.com)

Antidepressants promote obesity

People taking antidepressants over a longer period of time cause them to gain 21 percent more weight. This effect was greatest after two to three years of continuous use, explain the researchers. At the time, the risk of developing overweight for previously normal-weight patients was increased by 29 percent. These results must be seen in the context of increasing obesity worldwide. Thus, the ever increasing spread of antidepressants could contribute to the long-term weight gain of the population, says study author Professor Martin Gulliford of King's College London.

Data from 300,000 patients were analyzed

Antidepressants should always be the last resort to treat milder forms of depression. Those affected should prioritize interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy, the expert emphasizes. Data from 300,000 UK patient records were analyzed for the study. The BMI was considered and whether the patients had received antidepressants in the past year. Any weight gain greater than five percent was accurately logged.

Likelihood of weight gain increased

The probability of experiencing at least a five percent increase in weight was 8.1 percent at one year for non-antidepressants. However, when patients took antidepressants, the probability was 11.2 percent. When patients took antidepressants for three years, the probability of gaining five percent in weight was increased by 46 percent compared to those who did not take such medications. The risk of gaining weight increased over a period of up to six years.

Body weight management is very important for those affected

The research team examined twelve of the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of depression. All studied antidepressants led to a gain in weight, but mirtazapine cut particularly badly. The results of the study show that treatment with antidepressants increases the risk of patients gaining weight over a period of several years, says study author Dr. Rafael Gafoor from King's College London. From a clinical perspective, these observations reinforce the need for active, tailor-made and sustainable body weight management that goes hand in hand with prescribing antidepressants, the physician adds. (As)