Have you ever thought about birth control and its effect on your weight? Well, it turns out that the modern miracle pill might be responsible for some people losing weight. Do you think about joining the club?
In a recent study, researchers looked at data from over 200,000 women in the UK and found that those in the subgroup who took birth control pills were 25% less likely to be obese than those in the group who did not take pills. While this might not seem like a big difference, given the global obesity epidemic, every little bit of prevention is crucial.
So what is it about birth control pills that makes them so beneficial for weight loss?
Well, the researchers speculate that because they reduce estrogen levels, birth control pills might reduce the hormone’s effects on appetite. In addition, birth control pills also activate the hormones ghrelin and leptin, which help with appetite control. Lastly, the pill can also help to reduce the risk of diabetes, which is another factor that puts it in the ‘win’ column.
Is Birth Control Effective For All Women?
While the findings of the study are very promising, they should be noted for what they are. The study did not investigate the effect of birth control on men or the effect of other types of contraception. Therefore, it is not known whether the same results would be seen in men or women who use other methods of contraception.
However, other studies have investigated the relationship between contraception and body mass index (BMI) and have found similar results. A 2019 study examined the data of over 1 million women in Sweden and found that those who used contraception were 18% less likely to be obese compared to those who did not. In addition, the study noted that since the early 2000s, the use of birth control has risen dramatically among women in Sweden, with 89.4% of women in the country reporting to have used birth control in 2017. This increase is also seen in the UK, with an estimated 77.3% of women in the country having used birth control in 2018.
It is important to bear in mind that there is a wide variety of birth control available, and not all methods are created equal. Some forms of birth control, such as the IUD (intrauterine device), decrease the amount of estrogen in the body and can therefore cause weight loss. However, other forms of birth control, such as the pill, have been shown to increase weight in some cases. The decision to use birth control should therefore be based on a consultation with your doctor, who can review your individual case and determine which option is best for you.
More Information On The Effect Of Birth Control On Weight
If you’re still not sure whether or not birth control is making you lose weight, here’s more information on the subject from the American Association of Diabetes Educators. The group notes that research has found that women who take birth control are at lower risk for diabetes and heart disease. Therefore, they recommend that women with type 2 diabetes or heart disease use birth control to decrease their risk of these diseases.
Join The Club
If you’re interested in joining the club, here’s an information sheet from the American Association of Diabetes Educators about the health benefits of birth control for women with diabetes. They note that birth control has been shown to decrease your risk of some endocrine cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer. In addition, it can decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and improve your quality of life.
How Does Your Doctor Feel About The Effect Of Birth Control On Weight?
While it’s great that modern medicine is discovering new ways to fight obesity, it’s not great when those discoveries come with side effects. That’s why it’s important to remember that there are different opinions regarding the effect of birth control on weight. Some doctors feel that women should only use birth control if they want to lose weight, while others feel that it can be an acceptable form of contraception for everyone. To find out what your doctor’s opinion is, ask them directly.
However, if you’re concerned about the effect of birth control on your weight, you should probably ask your doctor about alternative methods of contraception or about lowering your estrogen levels. There are a variety of options for those who want to avoid or reduce their exposure to estrogen, including the IUD (intrauterine device) and the Jadelle (copper–IUD). The latter is a newer and more popular method of birth control that has been shown to decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes. If you want to try it out, ask your doctor about it.
The bottom line is that while it’s great to see medicine discovering ways to fight obesity, it’s not great when those discoveries come with side effects. By asking your doctor about the possible effects of birth control on your weight, you might be able to find a method that’s right for you. In addition, it’s never good when a study comes out with conflicting results, but researchers say that this is often the case and the findings should be interpreted with caution. In this situation, more studies are needed to provide conclusive evidence on whether or not birth control is making women lose weight.