If you’re taking Lexapro, you might be wondering if it’s safe to change your diet and exercise habits to lose weight. After all, the pill has been known to cause weight gain in some people. But before you start thinking about changing your ways, consult your doctor about the possible risks associated with this drug treatment.
How Does Lexapro Work?
If you’re not sure how Lexapro works, here’s an overview of the medication. This antidepressant medication is known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). When you take it, the drug can stay in your brain for a longer period of time than usual, which may help to improve your mood.
The medication works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate your mood. When you have more serotonin, you’re likely to feel happier and more settled. Your doctor may prescribe Lexapro for the treatment of various mood disorders, including depression.
Is There Research to Support Lexapro?
Although it hasn’t been proven, there’s some evidence to suggest that Lexapro may help to reduce appetite. One study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology found that the drug helped to reduce binge eating in women with depression. Because of this, it’s generally regarded as a safe and effective treatment for binge eating disorders.
Is There Any Risk Associated With Taking Lexapro?
Unfortunately, there’s also a risk associated with taking Lexapro. The drug can cause weight gain in some people. This is particularly true of those who are already predisposed to weight gain due to an underlying medical condition. Some examples of risk factors for weight gain while on Lexapro include the following:
- Age 35 or older
- Women who are pre-menopausal
- Those who are already susceptible to weight gain (e.g., due to diabetes or hypothyroidism)
- Pregnancy or trying to become pregnant
- Those who already have or are at risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- History of drug or alcohol abuse
- History of eating disorders, particularly those who have had a previous experience with fad diets
- Family history of obesity or eating disorders
- People taking other medications, particularly drugs with a diuretic effect (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, or bumetanide)
If you think that you’re at risk of weight gain while taking Lexapro, then you need to be cautious about changing your diet and exercise habits. And don’t just assume that because the pill has been shown to help with weight loss that it will be safe for you. Your doctor needs to examine your overall health and situation before they give you the all-clear. It would be best to avoid weight gain in the first place by being active and eating a healthy diet. If this proves to be unobtainable, then taking the antidepressant medication may be your only viable option.
Lexapro And Body-image Issues
If you have body-image issues, then you need to be careful about taking this medication. Serotonin has been shown to play a role in maintaining a healthy body image. When researchers investigated the effect of Lexapro on women with depression, they found that the drug helped to improve their body-image problems. Specifically, the women reported greater satisfaction with their bodies and less distress related to their bodies than those taking a placebo. While this is certainly promising, it’s still not exactly an indication that the medication is safe for people with body-image issues.
As with many medications, there’s a risk associated with Lexapro and body-image issues. The risk factors for developing body-image issues while on the drug include the following:
- Women who are pre-menopausal
- History of eating disorders, particularly those who have had a previous experience with fad diets
- Family history of obesity or eating disorders
- Pregnancy or trying to become pregnant
- Those who are already susceptible to weight gain (e.g., due to diabetes or hypothyroidism)
If you have a history of eating disorders, then you need to be extra careful about developing body-image issues while taking this medication. Seek medical help if you’re feeling overwhelmed or dissatisfied with your body. If you think that you’re at risk of developing body-image issues while taking the antidepressant medication, then you need to be extra vigilant about watching your diet and exercising regularly.
The key takeaway from this section is that if you’re taking Lexapro, then you need to be mindful about your diet and exercise habits. Be careful about eating too much and trying to lose weight if you’re on the medication. If you’re worried that you might develop body-image issues while on the medication, then be sure to talk to your doctor about how to treat the condition. Remember, as with most medications, there’s a risk of side effects including potential weight gain. But as long as you’re aware of the risks involved, you can decide if this is the right treatment for you based on your own unique situation and health needs.
Do I Have To Avoid Certain Foods While On Lexapro?
As mentioned previously, there’s a risk associated with taking Lexapro and developing an eating disorder. If you have an existing eating disorder, then you need to be careful about taking this medication. Avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar. When you have an eating disorder, your body tends to go into a state of hyper-drive whenever it encounters these foods. So eating them while on Lexapro will most likely result in more serious side effects than a person without an eating disorder would experience. Examples of foods that you should avoid while taking the medication include the following:
- White flour products (e.g., bread, pasta, and rice)
- Potato chips and other fried food items
- Junk food, particularly pizza and burgers
- Drinks with a high sugar content (e.g., sodas and fruit juices)
- Anything with added sugar (e.g., candy, cake, and cookies)
- White meats, particularly flank steaks, ribs, and chicken
- Red meats, particularly ground beef and pork
- Deep fried foods, particularly in oil (e.g., potato and other veggie sticks, fish, and chicken)
- Pastries, particularly those with a lot of sugar (e.g., donuts, doughnuts, and cake pops)
If you have a history of disordered eating, then it’s a good idea to avoid these foods while you’re on Lexapro. The chances of you developing an eating disorder while taking this medication are pretty high. So preventing these side effects is one of the primary reasons why you should avoid the foods listed above. Your doctor will guide you on what restrictions, if any, to place on your diet while you’re on the drug. But as a guideline, it might be a good idea to avoid foods with the above list.
Diet And Exercise While On Lexapro Are Safe
In general, diet and exercise are safe while you’re on this medication. Your doctor will tell you what foods to avoid and what foods to eat. They may also give you specific guidelines for how much weight you need to lose. There’s no need to worry about either of these aspects of your health while you’re taking the medication. But if you go overboard and lose a huge amount of weight, then you might end up suffering from health problems. Your doctor will help you to monitor and adjust your diet and exercise habits so that they don’t cause you any harm.
But be careful about changing your diet and exercise habits while you’re on this medication. If you do lose a large amount of weight, then it’s likely to be difficult to put back on. So make sure that you’re prepared for life in the real world after you lose the weight. This is important for your own mental health as much as it is for the sake of your health.
Lexapro And Pregnancy
Although there’s no risk of pregnancy while you’re on this medication, it’s still a good idea to be aware of the risks. If you’re taking it, then you need to be sure that you’re not becoming pregnant. Talk to your doctor about effective ways to prevent pregnancy while you’re on this drug. If you think that you might be pregnant, then you need to seek medical help immediately.