Survey of 792,022 Adults
Increased Rate of Weight Gain When Antidepressants and Anxiolytics Are Taken Simultaneously
A study has found that taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications simultaneously increases the risk of weight gain. In particular, men in their 20s showed the highest risk of weight gain.
Professor Huh Yeon from the Department of Family Medicine at Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital and Professor Park Hye-soon from Asan Medical Center in Seoul conducted a study on the association between 'antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and weight gain' among adults aged 19 to 39 who underwent national health screenings at least twice between 2009 and 2019. The total number of subjects was 792,022, with 484,499 men and 307,523 women.
The research team classified the subjects into four groups: 70,752 (8.9%) taking both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, 93,592 (11.8%) taking only antidepressants, 128,051 (16.2%) taking only anti-anxiety medications, and 499,627 (63.1%) not taking either, then examined changes in their weight.
The results showed that those taking both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications had a higher risk of weight gain compared to the non-user group. Specifically, the annual rate of weight gain exceeding 10 kg was highest in the group taking both medications at 4.1%, followed by the antidepressant-only group at 2.9%, and the anti-anxiety-only group at 2.4%. The non-user group had the lowest rate at 1.7%.
When analyzed by gender, men showed a higher rate of weight gain than women. Among men, the rates of gaining more than 10 kg annually were 4.5% for the group taking both medications, 3.0% for the antidepressant-only group, 2.5% for the anti-anxiety-only group, and 1.9% for the non-user group. For women, the rates were 3.7%, 2.8%, 2.2%, and 1.4%, respectively. In all groups, men had slightly higher rates of weight gain than women.
By age group, the subjects were divided into 19-29 and 30-39 years old, and the risk of weight gain was higher in those in their 20s. Among 19-29-year-olds, the annual rate of gaining more than 10 kg was 5.4% for the group taking both medications, 4.1% for the antidepressant-only group, 3.2% for the anti-anxiety-only group, and 2.0% for the non-user group. For those in their 30s, the rates were 3.5%, 2.4%, 1.9%, and 1.2%, respectively.
Professor Huh Yeon of Uijeongbu Eulji University Hospital said, "The use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications has been increasing among young adults recently," adding, "Since obesity in young adulthood can cause various diseases, caution is needed regarding the risk of weight gain when taking these medications." He also advised, "Patients at risk of weight gain should be especially careful."
This study was published in the latest issue of the international journal Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, published by the American Endocrine Society.
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