One reason many Americans are overweight, I believe, is that so many are on antidepressants.

[raccoon]

I've been on them for years, and IME, everyone I know who's on them and has been for years, usually
(SSRI's, Prozac, Effexor, etc.) is considerably overweight.

I know there are other factors that enter into this; age, level of activity, your diet, etc. But I believe that for many people, antidepressants are a contributing factor.

[bdamomma]

1. could very well be true

anti depressants can impact weight gain.

[stray cat]

2. The vast majority of overweight individuals are not on them

[KittyWampus]

8. They are now in our water supply. So even if you don't take them, you still consume traces.

Unless you have well water.

[Dr Morbius]

3. I think I could make a case that a sedentary lifestyle has a MUCH greater impact.

You cannot overstate the importance of physical activity to physical and mental health. It simply isn't possible to express just how important it is. Americans seek entertainment too often, and activity - purpose - too little. Antidepressants may well be a factor but a tiny one in comparison.

[sammytko]

7. exactly - you really have to move to maintain your weight

I was just arguing about this on another forum. Lady's son wants to join the Army, but he is fat and out of shape. Don't think he has ever been in shape. She says he goes and works out 3 times a week. I told her - lady - he has to go every day. No way will he make it if he is all mamby-pamby about it.

If you were never in any other shape, but round, it;s going to be really hard.

[pinboy3niner]

14. NOW you tell me

[KittyWampus]

9. I could make a case that a sedentary lifestyle may, for some, lead to depression.

Food choice also may lead to depression.

Standard American Diet= S.A.D.

[Lance_Boyle]

17. Sedentary lifestyle is also a *symptom* of depression.

I don't think we can attribute causality as the OP has done. Many variables involved, and they all interact.

[KittyWampus]

26. IMO, the inter-connectedness we speak of indicates a need for a more holistic approach.

[Dappleganger]

4. Packaged foods certainly don't help.

[AndrewP]

5. I put on 30 lbs when I went on Zoloft

I don't know if it's a major factor or not. But I can see that it is at least a factor.

[KittyWampus]

6. Even if YOU don't take anti-depressants our water supply is contaminated from our neighbors

taking them.

Oh, and anti-psychotics. They also tend to make people gain weight.

But it isn't just one thing. It's an entire host of issues, most of which boil down to people not being self-aware and into that vacuum seeps behavior that others profit by.

[Monique1]

10. The American people are over medicated

Grocery shopping. driving or in a parking lot are like being with a bunch of zombies. It is not the anti depressants - it is medication as a whole.

[lightningandsnow]

16. No.

My medications (a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant) gave me my life back. I have feelings, emotions, and can actually enjoy life.

If I was unmedicated, I would be a zombie half the time due to extreme depression and irresponsible and reckless the other half of the time due to mania/hypomania.

[superduperfarleft]

21. "Zombies?" Really?

:eyes:

Sounds like you're just being melodramatic.

[pruple]

11. other types of medications also cause weight gain

treatment for asthma and others

[TwilightGardener]

12. Could it be that overeating and having little energy are just concurrent

side effects of depression?

[lightningandsnow]

18. This too.

When I was at my worst, I slept 12+ hours a day and could only bring myself to eat pure carbs.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Yep--when I'm down, I eat more (self-medicating) and just don't want to do anything.

[superduperfarleft]

13. I thought that unsourced, anecdotal nonsense was supposed to be confined to the Health forum. n/t

[raccoon]

25. FYI, I SAID it was my opinion. You certainly are judgemental and critical.

At least, on the computer you are.

[superduperfarleft]

27. And your opinion is anecdotal, unsourced nonsense.

Stop being so judgmental and critical of MY opinion!!!!11one

[lightningandsnow]

15. Not just antidepressants, but many other medically necessary medications.

Anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers also come with significant weight gain, as do corticosteroids. As is the case with many other life-saving drugs.

This is one of the reasons why the "obesity epidemic" scare tactics are so problematic; they stigmatize people with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

I'd rather be overweight than dead at a very young age from very preventable causes.

[Seedersandleechers]

19. I found effexor to cause weight loss.

While on it I lost 15 pounds. Normally it is prescribed to take in the morning and not at night because it is a stimulant of sorts.

ttp://depression.emedtv.com/effexor/effexor-and-weight-loss.html

[Vickers]

20. I blame soda pop. n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

22. Are enough children also on antidepressants to account for the rise in childhood obesity?

According to the CDC, childhood obesity has nearly tripled in the last 30 years.

http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/

I realize that some medications can contribute to obesity, I believe the biggest cause is poor diet and lack of activity.

[pansypoo53219]

24. high fructose corn syrup in EVERYTHING.

corn is gonna kill us.

[Vinca]

28. Depression is a major factor. Many people self medicate with food.

It's like a nasty hamster wheel because the more you eat the more you self loathe so the more you eat to make yourself feel better. When I was a little (fat) kid, my grandmother took care of us after my mother died and there was a nightly snack ritual at her house that usually involved cookies. I think that's how my self medicating began . . . food = Grandma love.