Start tracking today. Concern about weight gain with birth control use is common and may keep some people from using it.
How to lose weight with the Depo shot
For a minority of people, hormonal birth control likely does cause weight gain. The implant and the shot may contribute to weight gain in some people.
- Weight Gain as a side effect of using hormonal Birth Control.
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A common belief people have about hormonal birth control is that it will cause weight gain Concern about side effects like weight gain keeps some people from using hormonal birth control 4. People who report gaining weight while using hormonal birth control such as the pill and the shot are more likely to stop using it Unfortunately in some cultures, there is harmful pressure to conform to standards that may not be realistic. Even scientific measures such as body mass index BMI cannot adequately classify who is healthy or not. As it relates to birth control, some people may fear weight gain, some may desire it, and others may not consider it important at all.
Changes in hormone levels during puberty and menopause can impact body composition.
Does the Depo-Provera Shot Cause Weight Gain?
Starting from puberty , estrogen causes body fat to be deposited on the chest, thighs, hips and butt 8. The hormonal changes that occur during and after menopause cause an increase in body fat, particularly around the abdomen 8,9. Some people experience an increase in weight around menopause, but this is believed to be related to aging more so than hormonal changes 8,9. Hormones also likely impact food intake over the menstrual cycle. Food intake decreases during the follicular phase the first half of the cycle when estrogen is the dominant hormone until ovulation release of an egg from the ovary , then increases during the luteal phase the second half of the cycle when progesterone is dominant 8.
Combined hormonal contraceptives are birth control methods that contain two hormones estrogen and progestin and include most pills, the patch, the ring, and some shots. Progestin-only contraceptives contain just a form of progestin hormone and include the implant, most intrauterine devices IUDs , a shot, and certain pills. There is not enough evidence to say that combined hormonal contraceptives cause weight changes, but if they do, the change in weight is likely small In people using progestin-only contraceptives, most studies do not show an increase in weight or body fat, but some do show a small increase Some people will gain weight on birth control, and some people may be more prone to weight gain than others.
Hormonal contraceptives have a number of uses in addition to protection from unwanted pregnancy.
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They are also used to treat or reduce symptoms of PCOS , endometriosis , heavy , irregular , or painful periods , and anemia. Fear of gaining weight may keep someone from starting birth control, or could lead to them using it incorrectly or inconsistently, or could cause them to stop using it altogether.
This could leave someone without effective protection from unwanted pregnancy or without treatment for a condition. Talking to a healthcare provider can help you consider the possible risks and benefits of taking hormonal birth control. Even though many people believe birth control causes weight gain, the research is not so clear cut. Most people gain weight from young adulthood to middle age, with an average weight gain of 0. There are daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal patterns to weight. Two very small studies have shown that people weigh less in the morning than the evening 13, One study showed that weight had a pattern of increasing from Friday to Monday and decreasing from Monday to Friday And adults in the U.
A study of people using birth control pills who were weighed every day for four months, showed that pill users gained about 0. I'm on the depo shot too, and losing weight, because I'm keeping an eye on my calories. January 16, AM The main thing it does is make you more hungry. Focus on fluids, and low calorie snacks if you're a volume eater.
Also if you haven't already, try out different macros to see what satiates you the best! It seems to vary from person to person. Doing so should help with appetite control as well. January 16, AM 7. January 16, PM 4. Have you considered an alternative to depo? If you feel as though you have significant increased hunger on it, perhaps another option will work better for you. Otherwise, keep in mind that depo itself doesn't cause weight gain, just that some people experience increased hunger and water retention while on it.
And yes, weight loss will take time, but there is nothing you can do to jump start it. You just have to start and go one day at a time. January 16, PM 6. January 16, PM 3. Jdavis, I completely know where you're coming from! I just stopped taking the depo shot last month technically, I just never got my last shot that was due a couple weeks ago. I have been on multiple types of birth control spanning from Ortho tri cyclin to Mirena IUD never had one weight gain side effect.
I have been taking the depo shot only since June and have gained 10 pounds. I work out days per week 3 days are always weight lifting and am health conscience with food. In other words, I didn't change a thing in my routine. As soon as I realized I was gaining this weight due to the depo, I immediately made the decision to stop the injections.
I am wondering how long system will take to regulate back to normal, and when I will start seeing this abnormal weight gain go away! Let's keep each other posted!!
The birth control shot is designed to last for three months. As a result, birth control shots can cause the most significant amounts of weight gain from retained water. Women who are already prone to water retention may want to steer clear of birth control shots and go with low-dose estrogen pills, or non-hormonal birth control instead. Some birth control pills can cause women to feel hungrier than usual, which can lead to excess calorie consumption and weight gain.
Unlike water retention, this type of weight gain is much harder to get rid of and is more permanent. It can be incredibly hard to make smart diet choices when a person is experiencing cravings for calorie-dense foods thanks to hormones. Certain birth control pills increase insulin levels. High levels of insulin cause any calories obtained from carbohydrates to be converted into fat cells.
Women who already have abnormal glucose metabolism are at high-risk of experiencing this side effect.
The types of hormonal birth control that are the biggest culprits for appetite stimulation are, again, pills with higher levels of estrogen. Low dose estrogen pills do not cause significant increases in appetite and insulin levels. For women who do experience weight gain on the pill , the average weight gained is 4. However, some birth control options can prevent water retention and also act as a diuretic, which can give women who would otherwise retain water a slimmer appearance.
The birth control pill Yasmin is the only birth control pill that has this effect.
It is not marketed as a weight loss pill, and women can only expect to lose maybe a pound or two in excess water. As always, making smarter diet choices and exercising are the only ways to prevent weight gain or promote weight loss. With period cravings, it can be easy to eat all the food in the world. Of course you can eat the chocolate, but it is all about balance.
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We have some great delicious snacks that can help you beat the period munchies. Pandia Health is all about helping you live your healthiest, most fulfilling life—snacks included! For women who are concerned about water retention, bloating, and weight gain while on birth control, they should try low-dose estrogen pills and steer clear of birth control shots.