A Spanish study found that pills used to treat a common issue affecting nearly 2 million Americans daily are also contributing to their weight gain
15:03 ET, 03 May 2025Updated 17:23 ET, 03 May 2025
Doctors are concerned about antidepressants causing weight gain in a population that suffers from both an obesity epidemic and depression(Image: Getty Images)
New findings suggest that prolonged use of antidepressants may lead to increased weight gain.
A study conducted by Spanish researchers revealed that participants who used antidepressants for an average of six years gained more weight than those who did not. The research, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, was led by Camille Lassale from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona.
The study tracked over 3,000 middle-aged Spanish adults for six years, investigating the impact of antidepressant use on body weight change and found that, over a six-year period, the average weight gain was 0.53 kg (1.01% body weight), with 24.5% of participants gaining more than 5% of their body weight.
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Antidepressants have been associated with weight gain(Image: Getty Images)
For those without obesity at the start of the study, the odds ratio for becoming obese was 2.06 for those with repeated antidepressant use, according to Conexiant.
Participants who initially took antidepressants and later discontinued them experienced an additional 1.8% weight gain compared to those who never used them. Those who began taking antidepressants during the follow-up period and those who consistently took them throughout the study saw a 2% increase in weight.
In the latter group, the risk of obesity doubled. Participants who continuously used antidepressants were predominantly women, older adults, and individuals with less healthy lifestyle habits, including diet and physical activity.
The research found that initial users who discontinued, new users at follow-up, and repeated users all experienced increased weight gain compared to non-users.
“Given the global obesity epidemic and the widespread use of antidepressants, weight management and metabolic monitoring should be encouraged and integrated into depression follow-up guidelines alongside antidepressant prescriptions,” the researchers recommended.
Doctors say it’s important information considering the obesity epidemic(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Dr Víctor Pérez, the head of the Psychiatry Department at Hospital del Mar, acknowledged the effectiveness of these drugs but cautioned: “Their effect on weight is not universal, although certain medications, such as mirtazapine and paroxetine, can cause significant weight gain.”
It’s crucial to remember that while antidepressants may contribute to weight gain, depression itself can also lead to weight changes, as stated by the Mayo Clinic.
The study took into account the well-established reciprocal relationship between depression and obesity, along with other related factors such as poor adherence to healthy diets and lack of physical exercise. However, the connection between antidepressant use and weight gain remained independent of age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and the presence (or absence) of depressive symptoms.
Depression and anxiety are two of the most prevalent mental health disorders in the United States, affecting approximately 21 million and 40 million Americans, respectively. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the most common type of antidepressants known to cause weight gain, are often prescribed to treat these conditions by increasing levels of the mood-regulating hormone serotonin.
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