If you have recently been put on a beta blocker for high blood pressure or other cardiovascular diseases, then you have probably already gone through the side effect list to see what you could potentially be getting.
Whilst every medication will have some form of side effect, there is one that people seem to zone in on the most and that is sudden weight gain.
Depending on the type of beta blocker being taken, e.g. Metoprolol (Lopressor Toprol-XL) or Atenolol (Tenormin) weight gain can occur, however, these specific ones are older beta blockers, whereas the newer beta blockers like Carvedilol (Coreg) are not usually linked with weight gain.
Today, we will go into what beta blockers are, why they contribute to weight gain, and how you can maintain a healthy weight whilst being on them.
What Are Beta Blockers?
You may have heard about beta blockers, such as propranolol, being used for people who have anxiety, to help block the effect of the chemical messengers known as adrenaline and noradrenaline from making them sweat, shake, or have a fast heart rate.
It won’t stop their anxious thoughts, but it will calm down the physical effects of the anxiety response.
Despite this support for people with anxiety, their primary function is for patients who have high blood pressure and need to have it reduced to prevent heart failure, heart disease, strokes, peripheral arterial disease, etc.
They can also be prescribed for migraines, hyperthyroidism, and tremors.
Doctors will determine if this course of treatment will be needed or if other medications will be better suited.
Common Beta Blockers
Below are some beta blockers that are most commonly prescribed today. One of the most well-known is Metoprolol, but there are plenty of other beta blockers that can be prescribed depending on the individual’s needs and current health status.
- Atenolol
- Carvedilol
- Labetalol
- Nebivolol & Bopindolol (third-generation beta blockers)
- Propranolol
- Sotalol
To know more about these types of beta blockers, it is important to read up on them before taking them to see what kind of side effects each has.
Your doctor will be prescribing you the right ones as they know what you need, but it is still important that you do your research on them yourself so you are able to distinguish weight gain from beta blockers or just normal weight gain.
What is The Link Between Beta Blockers and Weight Gain?
There have been studies conducted to understand why people who are taking a beta blocker for their high blood pressure suddenly gain weight.
A study on participants who had high blood pressure and were on beta blockers showed that they had an average of 2.6 pounds of weight more than those who were not taking this medication.
It was noted that the weight gain came on within the first few months of starting up their beta blockers.
This is only an average weight gain amount across the board as some participants probably put on more than a few pounds or they barely put any on, but from the data gathered, this seemed to be the average that came out.
It is also not known what type of person is more susceptible to weight gain with beta blocker use.
Does it Stop People From Losing Weight?
Not only do people find that beta blockers cause weight gain, but it has also been said that it can affect people’s ability to lose weight as well, but this study showed that it applied mostly to old beta blockers such as Metoprolol, Propranolol, and Atenolol.
If people were to lose 5% of their body weight, then this can make a significant difference in blood pressure and help improve it if people are experiencing high levels.
Losing weight can reduce high blood pressure which is one of the many reasons why people go for beta blocker therapy in the first place, however, if the beta blocker they are taking is causing them to not lose weight or it is promoting weight gain, then it can feel like a catch 22 situation.
How do Beta Blockers Cause Weight Gain?
The reason why beta blockers cause weight gain is that they slow down how many calories you burn during the day.
Beta blockers slow down the heart rate making it more difficult to do any physical activity as you don’t want to move much or you just don’t feel up to carrying on with any exercise you are doing.
Could There be Any Other Reasons?
You may think that your weight gain is to do with the beta blocker you are taking, however, there is a chance that there could be other reasons why this is happening, so you will need to speak to a health care provider immediately if you think that there is another issue at play.
For example, if you have a history of heart failure, then a sudden weight increase could mean that your heart failure is actually getting worse.
Preventing Weight Gain
Being aware that you could put on weight whilst using this medication means that you will have to take a look at how you can potentially counteract these effects so that you do not keep putting on weight or you make yourself feel worse.
Eat Healthy Foods
Pretty simple but effective.
If you are worried about putting on weight then take a look at what you are eating and the volume you are eating it at.
It is okay to indulge every once in a while, but making sure that the bulk of the food you eat is healthy and nutritious is very important for your overall health.
Protein, whole grains, vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, and so on, are the best things you can eat to get all your macronutrients and micronutrients.
Not only can it help you with being healthy in general, but a healthy diet will also help reduce your blood pressure.
Keep Yourself Active
Staying still and barely moving is not going to help your body be fit.
Activity will help you keep limber and it is an effective weight loss tool that improves blood pressure and keeps your heart healthy as well as your other organs.
You don’t have to overly exercise each day, just make sure that you move a lot, and if you sit down for work, then try and get up every once in a while to stretch and just get those legs moving so that you aren’t spending all of your time sitting down.
Sleep Well
Sleep is important for everyone, but if you do not sleep well, or your quality is low, then it can affect your body and cause weight gain.
You will crave more sugars and fats and you will probably eat more, especially if you are barely sleeping and you are taking in more calories during the day and night.
Keep Track of What You do
No matter what, keep track of what you eat, how much you eat, and how much exercise you do.
This will help you see where you can make improvements and what may contribute to you not losing weight or putting weight on.
Ignoring what you are doing and expecting it to be fine won’t help you in the long run and it can actually make you feel worse as you are seeing the change but are not actively doing something about it.
Conclusion
If you need to be on a beta blocker for your health and well-being, then you have to be aware that there will be side effects along the way.
Some will not be pleasant and it may make you feel upset, but if you can plan properly and you take into account all that can happen, you can make sure that whatever you need to take won’t affect you too much and you are able to feel happy with the course of treatment.
