Weight Gain and Depression | MyDepressionTeam

Connect with others who understand.

sign up log in
Resources
About MyDepressionTeam
Powered By

Weight Gain and Depression

Posted on June 13, 2019




Weight gain and changes to appetite can be a symptom of depression as well as a side effect of some antidepressants. Members on MyDepressionTeam have a wide range of experiences with gaining weight.

Weight gain as a result of medications varies from person to person. The same medication can cause one person to put on weight but not affect another. “I took Zoloft for a year and didn't notice any weight gain,” one member commented. Another had the opposite experience: “I have gained over two stone (28 pounds) since taking Zoloft.”

Weight gain from medication causes emotional distress for some members of MyDepressionTeam. “I've been on different antidepressants for years. All of them have caused me to put on weight, which causes more depression and not liking myself,” a member wrote.

Members encourage each other to be kind to themselves if they’re facing unwanted weight gain: “Please don't beat yourself up about your weight. The meds they give us make that happen.”

Fear of weight gain can be an impediment to sticking with treatment. “The thoughts of gaining weight will make me not want to take my medication,” a member who underwent gastric bypass surgery wrote. Talk to your healthcare provider if concern about weight gain is preventing you from following your treatment plan.

The benefits of medications cancel out the side effects for some members. “My meds cause weight gain, but I keep taking them because they work,” one member commented.

In some cases, members are able to minimize weight from medications with diet and exercise. “I decided to try and counteract the weight gain side effects by getting a personal trainer, and it is working so well,” a member reported. “My weight is going down and that combined with exercise has currently got me in the best head space I have been in for over a decade.”

On MyDepressionTeam, the social network and online support group for those living with depression, members talk about a range of personal experiences and struggles. Weight gain is one of the most discussed topics.


Here are some question-and-answer threads about weight gain:
 

Here are some conversations about weight gain:

Can you relate? Share your experience below or on MyDepressionTeam.

Posted on June 13, 2019
All updates must be accompanied by text or a picture.

Become a Subscriber

Get the latest articles about depression sent to your inbox.

Related articles

Have you ever thought that a coworker was out to get you fired from your job, even with no eviden...

5 Types of Delusions in Schizophrenia and 3 Ways To Manage Them

Have you ever thought that a coworker was out to get you fired from your job, even with no eviden...
Bipolar 1 disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania (elevated mood and energ...

Bipolar 1 Episodes: What Triggers Them and How Long They Last

Bipolar 1 disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania (elevated mood and energ...
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, schizophrenia is a disorder of psychosis — ...

5 Signs of Schizophrenia and How They Overlap With Depression

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, schizophrenia is a disorder of psychosis — ...
Symptoms of depression vary between individuals and by the type of depression they have. Depressi...

Symptoms of Depression

Symptoms of depression vary between individuals and by the type of depression they have. Depressi...
If you’ve ever felt bone-tired after a full night’s rest or sleepy after taking your medication, ...

Feeling Sleepy and Depression

If you’ve ever felt bone-tired after a full night’s rest or sleepy after taking your medication, ...
"Is anyone swinging between having no appetite at all or eating anything you can get your hands o...

Appetite and Depression

"Is anyone swinging between having no appetite at all or eating anything you can get your hands o...

Recent articles

We all know the importance of a healthy diet, but how do your food choices play a role in your bi...

Diet for Bipolar 1 Disorder: 3 Foods To Avoid and 3 To Eat

We all know the importance of a healthy diet, but how do your food choices play a role in your bi...
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that typically starts to affect people between the ages of 16 a...

What Are Good Jobs for People With Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that typically starts to affect people between the ages of 16 a...
This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which can give you mor...

Self-Kindness When Struggling: 6-Minute Guided Meditation

This is a short guided meditation by Dr. Christiane Wolf on self-kindness, which can give you mor...
Bipolar 1 disorder is a mood disorder characterized by rotating periods of elevated mood — manic ...

5 Physical Disorders and Bipolar 1: Risk of Migraine, Thyroid Issues, and More

Bipolar 1 disorder is a mood disorder characterized by rotating periods of elevated mood — manic ...
Schizophrenia is a life-long mental illness that affects the way you think, feel, and act. It is ...

What Is the Prodromal Schizophrenia Phase? 8 Symptoms

Schizophrenia is a life-long mental illness that affects the way you think, feel, and act. It is ...
If you’re living with bipolar disorder, you’ve likely experienced mood swings between mania — ele...

7 Things To Know About Bipolar Psychosis

If you’re living with bipolar disorder, you’ve likely experienced mood swings between mania — ele...
MyDepressionTeam My depression Team

Thank you for subscribing!

Become a member to get even more:

sign up for free

close
MyDepressionTeam
Add to your home screen
MyDepressionTeam Tap below and then 'Add to Home Screen'