Alice,
I have been taking birth control pills for about a
year now, and I think they have caused me to gain almost fifteen
pounds in that time. Since I work out aerobically at least five times a
week and eat a very healthy diet, the exact same as I have been doing
for the past three years, I don't know what else could be causing
the weight gain. I'm only twenty, so it shouldn't be weight gain
associated with aging. Is it possible that the pills are the
cause? If so, what can I do about it, short of ceasing to take
them?
-- Signed,
Feeling chubby
Dear Feeling chubby,
Birth control pills can alter your water metabolism. Both the
estrogen and progestin in the pills can cause fluid retention, a
temporary and usually cyclic effect that often begins
in the first month as a result of an increase in sodium. The
estrogen in the pill can cause weight gain due to increased breast, hip,
or thigh tissue, usually after several months on the pill. This causes
swollen ankles, breast tenderness,
discomfort with contact lenses, or a weight gain of up to five
pounds. Reducing your salt intake moderately can help control this
type of water retention.
Some progestin-dominant pills can cause appetite
increase and permanent weight gain. Pill-related depression may also
lead to increased appetite and weight gain. There are hundreds of
reasons why women gain weight that are not pill-related. Talk with your
health care provider about the extra weight you've gained, and, together,
you may be able to find the cause. At Columbia, call x4-2284 to make an
appointment with a provider at Primary Care Medical Services. Outside of Columbia,
contact a women's health care provider. If your weight gain is determined
to be pill-related, your provider can change your prescription to minimize
any weight gain.
Remember that exercise, especially weight training, can cause some weight
gain in the form of increased muscle mass.
- Alice
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Birth control pills and weight gain
