How to Lose Prednisone Weight

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Prednisone can provide much-needed relief for conditions like severe allergies, arthritis, or asthma. But prednisone can also cause you to gain weight, fast due to an increase in appetite or water retention. Even though you can't control the side effects you experience on prednisone, you can do a lot to manage them. To manage weight gain, try eating a healthy diet by lowering the amount of sodium you eat, getting lots of lean protein, and hydrating with water. Also work with your doctor to reduce your Prednisone dosage as much as possible.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Making Diet and Exercise Changes

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  1. Prednisone can cause an increase in appetite. You might be tempted to snack more than you are used to while taking prednisone. To counteract that temptation, try reducing the size of your meals and eating more often. [1]
    • Eating smaller meals can also help you digest.
  2. A healthy diet includes getting lean protein from sources like skinless chicken or turkey, tofu, and nuts. Most people need around 50-60 g of protein every day. [2]
    • A 3 ounces (85 g) serving of chicken or turkey has 19 g of protein. A serving of yogurt has around 17 g of protein. 1 egg has about 6 g of protein. [3]
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  3. Healthy fats can make your meals tastier and keep you fuller for longer, meaning you will snack less. The healthiest fats are monounsaturated fats, but polyunsaturated fats aren't bad for you. Avoid trans fats and saturated fats entirely, if possible. [4]
    • Good sources of healthy fats include avocados, nuts, olive oil, tuna, and salmon.
  4. Some people who take prednisone have success managing their weight by drastically reducing the amount of carbs they eat, or even cutting carbs entirely out of their diets. Try to minimize the amount of processed carbs you eat to manage your weight. [5]
    • Sources of simple and processed carbs to avoid include bread, pastries, sodas, potatoes, and pasta.

    Warning : Be aware that using prednisone long-term may increase blood sugar and contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.

  5. Sodium causes fluid retention, which is one cause of weight gain that is common on prednisone. Keep your daily sodium intake below 2000 milligrams a day, if you can. [6]
    • You can reduce your sodium intake by not adding salt to your food and avoiding prepackaged or processed foods.
  6. Eating more potassium can help limit the amount of water your body retains. It also reduces the amount of sodium in your body. It also flushes out extra fluids. [7]
    • Some high potassium foods include dried plums, spinach, bananas, raisins, squash, yogurt, and milk.
  7. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Drinking more water can keep you fuller for longer, so if you have an increased appetite, try drinking a glass of water before you snack. Drinking water instead of soda or other sweetened beverages can also cut extra sugar and carbs out of your diet. [8]
    • If you are thirsty, you are probably dehydrated. Drink enough water throughout the day so that you never feel thirsty.
  8. Exercise for at least 15 minutes, 5 times a week. It can be difficult to add exercise into your life when you are taking prednisone. Start with something you know you can accomplish, like a brisk, 15-minute walk. Ramp up the level of your exercise, if you can. [9]
    • Some exercise is better than no exercise. You don't need to do intense exercise every day to see benefits from moving your body.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Adjusting Your Medication

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  1. Prednisone can cause lots of unpleasant side effects that can contribute to weight gain. Prednisone can change your appetite and make you more prone to snacking or overeating, but it can also cause bloating and constipation. Talking to your doctor about these side effects can help you come up with an action plan. [10]
    • You might be able to manage these side effects by changing your dosage.
  2. Depending on the symptoms you experience, your doctor might be able to prescribe other medications that can counteract your side effects. Talk to your doctor first before adding any additional medications to your routine. [11]
    • For example, if you have an increased appetite, you may be able to take a mild appetite suppressant.
  3. The higher you dosage is, the more likely you are to experience side effects. If it's possible with your condition, ask your doctor if you can reduce your dosage. [12]
    • Always talk to your doctor before making any changes to your medication.
  4. No matter how low your dose is, taking prednisone for a long period of time will most likely cause some weight gain. Work with your doctor to try to work out a timeline for your treatment that is as short as possible. [13]

    Warning : Even if you’re on a short course of prednisone (less than 21 days), never stop taking it suddenly. This can lead to a steroid crisis, so it’s important to gradually taper off of the medication. Check with your healthcare provider before you stop taking prednisone to find out how to do so safely.

  5. Prednisone can interact with other medications, like aspirin, butabarbital, and fluconazole, and make side effects worse. Ask your doctor if it would be better to find another medication or temporarily stop taking a medication if it interacts with prednisone. [14]
    • In some cases, you may need to continue taking your medication with prednisone, even if it causes side effects.
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      Tips

      • In most cases, your weight will return to normal within 6 months to 1 year after stopping prednisone, so try not to worry too much about weight gain. [15]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/ild_nutrition_manual/prednisone_and_weight_gain/
      2. ↑ https://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/lean-meat.html
      3. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-much-protein-do-you-need-every-day-201506188096
      4. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/choosing-healthy-fats.htm
      5. ↑ https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/
      6. ↑ https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/weight-loss-prednisone/
      7. ↑ https://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/weight-loss-prednisone/
      8. ↑ https://healthfully.com/36682-lose-weight-prednisone.html
      9. ↑ https://healthfully.com/36682-lose-weight-prednisone.html
      1. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601102.html
      2. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601102.html
      3. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601102.html
      4. ↑ https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2018/04/10/prednisone-weight-gain/
      5. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601102.html
      6. ↑ https://www.hss.edu/conditions_steroid-side-effects-how-to-reduce-corticosteroid-side-effects.asp

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