Preventing and Treating Weight Gain From Antidepressants
If you are noticing unexplained weight gain while taking an
antidepressant, there are some things that you can do. Suggestions include:
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. This diet should include:
- Lots of fruits, vegetables, grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products
- Lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts
- Limited amounts of saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium (salt), and added sugars.
- Get regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week.
- Limit your intake of alcohol.
Not only will these steps help to limit weight gain, they are also beneficial for health in general.
Also, if you are gaining weight while taking an antidepressant, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she can give you other suggestions for dealing with this. Your healthcare provider may also look for other causes, such as certain types of medical conditions. If the weight gain continues, your healthcare provider may recommend other lifestyle changes or possibly switching to another antidepressant.
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