Is there a connection between birth control medication and gaining weight? You might have experienced a little bit of weight when you started taking birth control and thought it must be a normal occurrence, research states that you might have been one of the very few women who did.
Obstetrician gynecologist, Ashley Brant, argues that there is a common error that birth control leads to weight gain. “Many people believe that having an IUD implant or taking birth control tablets always results in weight gain. However, thorough scientific investigation indicates it is untrue.”
Dr Brant acknowledges that “Birth control can cause side effects for an individual patient, like any medication, but data indicates that weight increase isn’t frequent enough to be reliably identified in research investigations.”
Health, an online publication for health and wellness, explained why some women would find themselves gaining weight when taking birth control. Amongst other things, these are the causes:
Age: Adolescence is a common time for people to begin using birth control. The publication claims that it is normal to gain a little weight as you age and your body changes.
Appetite: Emotional overeating episodes may be brought on by elevated progesterone levels, states Health. When you are on birth control, it is mentioned that you might eat foods heavy in fat, salt, and carbohydrates more frequently.
Fluid storage: According to the above-mentioned publication, during the first several months of using birth control, the body could store more fluids, therefore a few pounds may be gained in weight due to fluid retention.
Mental health: Individuals using birth control who suffer from mental health issues like anxiety or depression may put on weight more easily.
