Weight gain on steroids

[David H]

Though the rule is you can only gain weight from increased calorie input, people I know on prescribed steroids all put on weight as an inevitable consequence. Does it just increase appetite or is there actually another way weight can be gained without calorie increase?

[beryllium]

Hi David, i've had the mispleasure of taking steroids for m.s and, yes, i put on weight. 1 1/2 stone. My diet didn't change, mind over matter in this instance because you do feel hungry on them.

i dont know why they actually make you gain weight.

[Darrenlass77]

I was put on these meds (for various reasons) and managed to puff out like a flipping balloon - and it wasn't due to any extra food intake, more likely water retention and exhaustion, which reduced the amount of energy I was burning up, hence the weight gain. Within a few weeks of coming off the steroids, I lost the excess weight and water and got my energy levels back to normal.

If anyone has been prescribed these meds and are having this sort of side effect, then please go back to your GP - there are other ones that can be tried instead.