So you’re trying to lose weight (aren’t we all?) and you’ve started to notice that you’re having trouble with your moods. Maybe you don’t enjoy activities that you used to, you can’t find the energy to complete tasks at home or at work, or you’re finding it hard to plan for the future. Maybe your mood swings are spiraling out of control, reaching extremes of mania and depression. Perhaps you’re suffering from anxiety, panic, or severe psychoses. All of this can seriously interfere with your personal, social and professional lives, not to mention your big plan to lose those extra pounds this year.
If and when you seek medical attention for mood trouble (as you should), the problem can actually become more complicated. Common medications which are successful at treating depression and bipolar disorder – medications which save thousands of lives every year – often have weight gain as a side effect. Even without making any changes to your exercise routine or diet, the hormonal and chemical changes brought by medication may make it easier to put on weight, and harder to take it off.
Remember that you should never have to make a choice between your mental and physical health – you can achieve both. Don’t rule out effective medication simply because of its potential for weight gain. Rather, there are a few options to discuss with your doctor.
1. Exercise. Yes, it’s that simple and also that difficult. Exercise is the miracle cure with absolutely no adverse side effects. So get on your walking shoes. With effective mood-stabilizing medication, you may actually find it easier to get out there and do your exercise.
2. Switch to alternative medications that do not clearly cause weight gain. Thanks to advances in medicine, these are available more and more.
3. Combine lower dosages of two or more mood-stabilizing medications for a reduction in side effects.
4. Take another “antidote” medication to counteract the weight-gaining effects of the primary medication. (Some of these can have serious side effects of their own, and deserve careful consideration.)
Be sure to research alternative drug choices, and be vocal about your concerns during doctor visits. It’s not something to take lightly, as medication-induced weight gain (or “metabolic syndrome”) can have serious health effects including diabetes and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Also, pronounced weight gain (whether medication-induced or not) can lead to intense anxiety and depression, actually mimicking the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Therefore, shedding pounds through exercise and healthy eating may actually help alleviate the severity of your symptoms.
Together with your health-care provider, you should be able to find a comprehensive treatment plan that works for you – remember that it’s their responsibility as well as yours.
Maintaining proper weight, after all, is an important part of overall health. Each of us faces difficult mental and physical obstacles when implementing a sustainable weight-loss plan. People do overcome it, and so can you.