Prescription Drugs Contribute to Weight Gain in Midlife Women Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Menopause News Some Midlife Weight Gain Is Due to Prescribed MedicationsA new study finds that treatments for anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other conditions increase abdominal weight after menopause. By Beth LevineJuly 16, 2020Everyday Health ArchiveFact-CheckedAre your meds making you gain weight?Everyday Health Many women experience weight gain, especially in the abdominal area, during the menopause transition. Using data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a new study, published in Menopause on July 13, discovered that the gain is exacerbated by the medications that women are often prescribed at this time — especially antidepressants for depression and anxiety, beta-blockers for high blood pressure, and insulin for diabetes. RELATED: 10 Ways to Beat Menopausal Belly Fat Hormonal Flux Isn t the Only Force Driving Weight Gain “At this point in their lives, women may be having more regular follow-up with physicians and be treated for chronic diseases, with medications that can cause weight gain. They think the increase is all due to menopause, unaware of the fact that some of these medications in and of themselves cause weight gain,” says the study's lead author, Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, an obesity medicine physician for adults, adolescents, and children and the director of external consultative services for Massachusetts General Hospital Weight Center in Boston. The scientific journal, which is the journal of the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), has also published a video summary of this study. Weight-Promoting Drugs Taken Alone or in Combination Affected Waist Size The study measured body mass index (BMI) and waist size at the study’s start and again after three years. Waist size was an important factor, because BMI doesn’t take into account where weight is being held. During the transition to menopause, the decrease in estrogen levels causes weight to shift from hips, thighs and buttocks to the abdominal region. Researchers then analyzed the results, taking into consideration the participants’ use of known weight-promoting drugs. The result: Women who were taking at least one weight-promoting medication showed a greater increase in BMI and waist circumference. The largest jump was in those prescribed either antidepressants or insulin. Taking two or more of these drugs increased weight gain even more, especially among those taking a combination of antidepressants and beta-blockers. RELATED: 21 Tips for Weight Loss That Actually Work BIPOC Women Face Increased Risk for Weight Gain Women of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities were affected more than their white counterparts. “It has been well-studied that Black and Latina women are more prone to weight gain due to a complex intertwining of issues such as biology, genetic variants, economic and social issues, and the ongoing trauma of racism. Racism is a constant stressor, which causes body inflammation, which can lead to weight gain,” explained Dr. Stanford. The Link Between Menopause and Related Conditions That Require These Drugs “The menopause transition is exactly when women develop hypertension, and the menopause transition is known to be a period of vulnerability in terms of mood, so a lot of women are put on antidepressants and beta-blockers during this time. Also, weight gain is common in midlife and may contribute to development of hypertension and mood disorders,” explains Stephanie Faubion, MD, the medical director of the North American Menopause Society. Also, people who develop overweight or obesity often develop insulin resistance, which increases their likelihood of progression to type 2 diabetes. Not everyone who develops type 2 diabetes will need insulin; a provider may prescribe it if diet and lifestyle changes, and oral and other injectable medications, are not sufficient to manage the condition. RELATED: 5 Ways to Manage Weight While Taking Insulin Questions to Ask About Meds When You re in the Menopausal Transition Healthcare providers don’t always know that certain drugs can affect weight. “If you are being prescribed something, do your own investigation. This is where Dr. Google is your friend. Look up side effects and what percentage of patients gain weight. Then discuss with your doctor,” says Stanford. Questions to ask:Are there diet and lifestyle changes you can try first?What is the lowest dose of medication that will be most effective?Are there other drugs within that class of drugs that have less effect on weight? Warning: Do not stop a prescribed medication without checking first with your physician. RELATED: 9 Hard Truths About Weight Loss That Can Help You Slim Down What Doctors Need to Know About Drugs and Weight Gain Doctors should learn which drugs cause weight gain. And if they still have to use the agents that promote weight gain, then they should learn how to use medications for the treatment of overweight and obesity. Unfortunately, that’s not a skill that most healthcare providers have. “We have to recognize that we as healthcare providers are part of the problem often, and we don't even realize that we're a contributor to weight gain in our patients. A lot of times it's not just what the patient's doing, it's what we're doing and or not doing for the patient,” notes Stanford. RELATED: How Denise Austin Torches Post-Menopausal Belly Fat (and Other Unwanted Flab) Doctors and the Women They Treat Can Work Together for Weight Loss Success “This study highlights the significant adverse health effects of obesity and the association between the use of weight-promoting medications such as antidepressants, antihypertensives, and insulin and weight gain in midlife women. In addition to ensuring that these weight-promoting medications are used judiciously, and in the lowest doses needed to achieve the desired outcomes, lifestyle strategies to mitigate these adverse effects, such as diet quality, physical activity level, and sleep quality and duration, should be emphasized,” said Dr. Faubion, who is also the Penny and Bill George Director for Mayo Clinic's Center for Women's Health, in a press release for the study's publication in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. RELATED: 7 Fun Ways to Move More in Midlife NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Women' s Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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