New Study Reveals Which Antidepressants Are Most Likely to Cause Weight Gain

Boston, Massachusetts United States of America
Bupropion users saw the least amount of weight gain among first-line antidepressant patients.
Escitalopram and paroxetine found to cause roughly 1 pound more weight gain than sertraline after six months.
New study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine analyzes electronic health record data of over 183,000 new antidepressant users.
Researchers compared weight gain among patients prescribed several different first-line antidepressants and those taking sertraline.
Study aims to give providers and patients more information for informed decisions about antidepressant use.
New Study Reveals Which Antidepressants Are Most Likely to Cause Weight Gain

According to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, some antidepressant medications are more likely than others to cause weight gain. The study, led by researchers from Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, analyzed electronic health record data of over 183,000 new antidepressant users from eight U.S. health systems between 2010 and 2019.

The researchers compared weight gain among patients prescribed several different first-line antidepressants and those taking sertraline, which is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant. They found that users of escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Seroxat) gained roughly 1 pound more than those on sertraline after six months. Escitalopram and paroxetine users were also 10% to 15% more likely to gain at least 5% of their baseline weight than sertraline users.

On the other hand, patients prescribed bupropion (Wellbutrin) saw the least amount of weight gain among those taking first-line antidepressants. Fluoxetine (Prozac) was not associated with a change in weight after six months compared with sertraline.

The study offers a more granular look at the impact of different antidepressant medications on weight gain, as previous studies have only provided averages. The researchers noted that while the overall effect may seem small, it affects some patients more than others.

Lead researcher Joshua Petimar told Axios that the study aims to give both providers and patients more information to make informed decisions about their antidepressant use.

The study is part of a series of examinations Petimar's team is planning on how patients' weight is affected by certain medications, including antidepressants taken by children and adolescents, as well as drugs for psychosis, diabetes, hypertension and seizures.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any non-peer reviewed studies that could affect the results?
  • Could there be other factors influencing weight gain in addition to antidepressant use?
  • How representative are the study's findings of real-world scenarios?

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Some antidepressants cause more weight gain than others, study finds

Axios News Site: https://www.axios.com/2024/01-30/prior-authorization-gap-insurer-drug-decisions Tina Reed Monday, 01 July 2024 22:14
  • Unique Points
    • Study finds that certain first-line antidepressant medications cause more weight gain than others.
    • Users of escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Seroxat) gained roughly 1 pound more than those on sertraline after six months.
    • Escitalopram and paroxetine users were 10% to 15% more likely to gain at least 5% of their baseline weight than sertraline users.
    • Bupropion (Wellbutrin) saw the least amount of weight gain among patients prescribed first-line antidepressants.
  • Accuracy
    • Users of escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Seroxat) gained roughly 1 pound more than those on sertraline after six months.
    • Those on those medications were 10% to 15% more likely to gain at least five percent of their starting weight compared to users of five other commonly-prescribed antidepressants, like sertraline.
    • Escitalopram and paroxetine were both associated with a higher likelihood of gaining at least 5% of their baseline weight.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The author provides evidence from a study to support her claims and does not commit any formal or informal fallacies. However, she uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'Drug-related weight gain may deter some patients from starting or adhering to their prescriptions.' This statement is an appeal to emotion and can be considered a minor infraction. The score is reduced accordingly.
    • Drug-related weight gain may deter some patients from starting or adhering to their prescriptions.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

82%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The three antidepressants most likely to make you fat - and the two that are the most slimming,...

Daily Mail Online News Site Cassidy Morrison Monday, 01 July 2024 21:11
  • Unique Points
    • Harvard researchers studied prescription data from nearly 200,000 US adults and found that those who took escitalopram, paroxetine, and duloxetine gained up to three pounds after two years taking the drugs.
    • Those on those medications were 10 to 15 percent more likely to gain at least five percent of their starting weight compared to users of five other commonly-prescribed antidepressants, like sertraline.
    • Antidepressants are taken by one in 10 Americans and are a highly effective tool to help lift the fog of depression as well as anxiety disorders.
    • A study from earlier this year found that antidepressant prescriptions for young adults and teens have increased by nearly 64 percent since 2020.
  • Accuracy
    • Users of escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Seroxat) gained roughly 1 pound more than those on sertraline after six months.
    • Escitalopram and paroxetine users were 10% to 15% more likely to gain at least 5% of their baseline weight than sertraline users.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article makes several statements that could be considered deceptive or misleading. First, the title implies that only three antidepressants cause weight gain and two do not. However, the article later states that all eight antidepressants studied were associated with some weight gain over a two year period. This is a form of selective reporting and sensationalism. Second, the article states that 'patients and their clinicians often have several options when starting an antidepressant for the first time.' However, it does not mention that there was no control group in the study, meaning it's unclear if the weight gain is due to the medication or other factors. This is a form of omission. Third, the article states that 'Doctors also often prescribe Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Common SNRIs include venlafaxine and duloxetine.' However, it does not mention that only duloxetine was linked with no weight gain at all after six months. This is a form of selective reporting. Lastly, the article states that 'Some patients say that sexual problems continued for years after they stopped taking SSRIs.' However, it also states that 'large scale, high quality studies have yet to prove this conclusively.' This creates a conflicting message and could be considered emotional manipulation.
    • Only duloxetine and paroxetine were linked with no weight gain at all after six months.
    • The three antidepressants most likely to make you fat - and the two that are the most slimming,...
    • Those on those medications were 10 to 15 percent more likely to gain at least five percent of their starting weight compared to users of five other commonly-prescribed antidepressants, like sertraline.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by citing a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine. However, the study did not feature a control group, which means the small increase in weight over a two year period could be due to chance or the mental health problem itself. This is an important consideration when evaluating the significance of the findings.
    • ][Dr Joshua Petimar]‘Patients and their clinicians often have several options when starting an antidepressant for the first time. This study provides important real-world evidence regarding the amount of weight gain that should be expected after starting some of the most common antidepressants. ‘Clinicians and patients can use this information, among other factors, to help decide on the right choice for them.’
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Some Antidepressants Tied to More Weight Gain Than Others

MedPage Today Michael DePeau-Wilson Tuesday, 02 July 2024 05:30
  • Unique Points
    • Bupropion was associated with a 15% reduced risk of patients gaining at least 5% of their baseline weight.
    • Escitalopram, paroxetine, and duloxetine were all associated with a higher likelihood of gaining at least 5% of their baseline weight.
    • Fluoxetine had an estimated weight gain slightly lower than but similar to sertraline at 6 months (-0.07 kg).
    • Bupropion was the only antidepressant not associated with significant weight gain in this study.
  • Accuracy
    • Study of 183,118 patients linked bupropion (Wellbutrin) to the least amount of weight gain compared to other first-line antidepressants.
    • In a 24-month study, estimated weight gain for bupropion was lower than sertraline (Zoloft) at all time points: 6 months (-0.80 kg), 12 months (-0.71 kg), and 24 months (-0.91 kg).
    • Users of escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Seroxat) gained roughly 1 pound more than those on sertraline after six months.
    • Those on those medications were 10 to 15 percent more likely to gain at least five percent of their starting weight compared to users of five other commonly-prescribed antidepressants, like sertraline.
    • Patients who took Lexapro or Paxil gained about a pound more on average than those who took Zoloft in the first six months.
  • Deception (85%)
    The article provides data from a study that compares the weight gain associated with different antidepressant medications. The author reports the findings of the study and quotes experts for their opinions. There is no editorializing or pontification by the author, and there is no emotional manipulation or sensationalism in the article. However, there are instances of selective reporting as only certain medications are discussed in detail, with a focus on those that have higher weight gain compared to bupropion. The study limitations are also not extensively discussed. Therefore, while the article does provide valuable information from a scientific study, it is not completely unbiased and could potentially mislead readers by focusing only on certain aspects of the research.
    • Multiple first-line antidepressant medications were broadly linked with weight gain...
    • Bupropion led to the least amount of weight gain across all time points compared to the other medications...
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Do Antidepressants Cause Weight Gain?

The New York Times Christina Caron Monday, 01 July 2024 22:13
  • Unique Points
    • A new study analyzed the electronic health records of over 183,000 US patients who were considered first-time antidepressant users and tracked their weight for 24 months.
    • After six months, patients who took Lexapro, Paxil or Cymbalta had a higher risk of gaining a clinically significant amount of weight (at least 5% of their baseline weight) compared with users of Zoloft.
    • Patients taking Wellbutrin were less likely to experience this type of weight gain.
    • Those who took Wellbutrin put on less weight than those who took Zoloft.
  • Accuracy
    • Patients who took Lexapro or Paxil gained about a pound more on average than those who took Zoloft.
    • Users of escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Seroxat) gained roughly 1 pound more than those on sertraline after six months.
    • Escitalopram and paroxetine users were 10% to 15% more likely to gain at least 5% of their baseline weight than sertraline users.
  • Deception (85%)
    The article provides information about a study that found some antidepressants cause more weight gain than others. The author does not make any editorializing or pontification statements, and there is no emotional manipulation or sensationalism. The author also discloses the sources of the information in the form of a published study in Annals of Internal Medicine. However, selective reporting is present as only certain weight gain statistics are mentioned, specifically those that support the author's position.
    • The study, published on Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine,
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Study compares weight gain across eight common antidepressants

MedicalXpress Science X Tuesday, 02 July 2024 05:32
  • Unique Points
    • Study compares weight gain under eight different first-line antidepressants
    • Bupropion users are 15-20% less likely to gain clinically significant amount of weight than users of sertraline in first six months
    • New findings reveal which common antidepressants are associated with most and least weight gain following medication initiation
  • Accuracy
    • Bupropion users are 15-20% less likely to gain clinically significant amount of weight than users of sertraline, the most common medication
    • Bupropion users gained least amount of weight compared to users of other antidepressants
    • Patients and clinicians can use this information to help decide on right choice for them when starting an antidepressant for the first time
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication