Birth control may cause some women to gain weight. The amount of weight gain will vary depending upon the method of birth control being used and how your body responds to the medication. It's important to follow a safe weight-loss plan and any advice that your health-care provider may give.
Methods of Birth Control
Typically, hormonal birth control methods are the types that will cause you to gain weight. These birth control methods affect your body's hormones and can trigger increased appetite, weight gain, breast tenderness, dizziness and nausea. Hormonal birth control options include birth control pills, the birth control patch, the Depo shot, implant and vaginal rings. Non-hormonal birth control methods do not affect your body or hormones and consist of condoms, diaphragms, spermicides and cervical caps.
Weight Gain
The amount of weight that you gain from your birth control method will depend upon the method and how your body responds to the hormone therapy. MayoClinic.com states that birth control pills cause very little to no weight gain, while Drugs.com reports that women tend to gain around 5 lbs. per year on average with the Depo-Provera shot. Your body may respond differently than that of an average woman or the birth control may cause your appetite to greatly increase, which can lead to weight gain.
Safe Weight Loss
It's important to lose weight in a safe manner. Losing weight the correct way -- through exercise and diet -- can help prevent complications that arise from fad diets. When you're trying to lose weight, it's important to maintain a healthy diet. Just because you're trying to lose a few pounds, it doesn't mean that your body no longer needs nutrients. You can lose about a pound per week by reducing your caloric intake by 500 calories each day since there are roughly 3,500 calories in one pound of fat. You can accelerate your weight loss by combining exercise with your daily routine. Not only will proper diet and exercise help you lose weight safely, it will help keep it off long-term.
Warning
Following a fad diet to lose weight can cause complications such as dehydration, malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. You will likely regain the weight that you lost while following a fad diet once you revert to your normal or old eating habits. This does you no good and only causes short-term weight loss. Ask your health-care provider whether he approves of a particular diet prior to changing your eating habits.
References
- WomensHealth.gov: Birth Control Methods: Frequently Asked Questions; March 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Birth Control FAQ: Benefits, Risks and Choices; May 2009
- Drugs.com: Depo-Provera; Oct. 2010
- FamilyDoctor.org: Birth Control Options; Sept. 2010
- HelpGuide.org: Healthy Weight Loss and Dieting Tips: How to Lose Weight and Keep it Off; Melinda Smith, M.A., et al.; May 2011
- American Heart Association: Quick Weight-Loss or Fad Diets
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