Understanding Weight Gain and Clinical Depression: Causes & Solutions

Clinical depression is also known as unipolar or major depression. But no matter what it's called, a common symptom is weight change. Although some people lose weight, most people with clinical depression gain weight.

Causes

• Causes of weight gain in people with clinical depression include comfort eating, reduction of exercise because of fatigue and chronic pain, and side effects from antidepressants.

Medication

• According to Psychology Today, antidepressants commonly cause people to gain weight, especially Lexapro (escitalpram), Paxil (paroxetine) and Marplan (isocarboxazid).

Significance

• The National Alliance on Mental Health states that many antidepressants can cause both an increase in appetite and drowsiness. This combination may make a person eat more calories but burn fewer calories.

Prevention

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no way of testing if an antidepressant will give a particular person extra pounds. People on antidepressants need to monitor their weight and begin dieting and exercising throughout treatment.

Benefits

• The Family Intervention Guide to Mental Illness by Bodie Morey and Kim T. Muesser states that the benefits of antidepressants outweigh the risks.