Can Anxiety Cause Weight Gain?

Video Transcript

I’ve read that anxiety can cause a person to lose a lot of weight. I have the opposite problem. I’ve put on a lot of weight. Can anxiety cause a person to gain weight?

Yes, most anxious people lose weight. However, some people gain weight.

Research has found that some people gain weight because anxiety triggers the stress response, which stresses the body. An increase in stress increases circulating cortisol levels, which increases blood sugar. An increase in blood sugar can cause a gain in weight, often noticed in the stomach and waste areas of the body.

So, yes, some people gain weight when they are overly anxious. However, this is the exception and not the rule.

Diet is another aspect to consider. Because the body burns more fuel when stressed, many people eat more to compensate and often crave fast, high-fat, and high-sugar foods.

Eating these foods can cause a gain in weight if you aren’t physically active enough to use up those extra calories.

Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications are another aspect to consider. Many of these medications cause weight gain as a side effect. And some medications can cause more weight gain than others.

If you believe your antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication is causing a gain in weight, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about reducing your dosage, making a medication change, or discontinuing if you are ready.

There are other reasons why anxiety can cause an increase in weight.

For more information about anxiety-caused weight changes, see the anxiety symptoms “Weight Gain” and “Weight Loss.” The links are in the comments.