Has anybody found a link between weight gain and taking statins?

[2squirrels]

[Wyvon]

Not me and I have been on statins for about ten years now. I have always had problems keeping my weight at an acceptable level but this did not change once I started on statins. My thought is that, as we get older most people tend to put weight on. If I am on statins it is to keep my cholesterol levels down. If I exercise then this will help to keep my weight and my cholesterol levels down.

[sandybrown]

Hi,

Weight gain is all to do with food intake!, some time with any medication we do take in more food than required. I found it difficult to control food intake with statin, was on statin for three months. By regular exercise am keeping the weight in a controlled number, still overweight. At 67, want to enjoy life.

[Andyman]

No with statins and many other drugs have brought my weight down 35 kgs. But this had also to do with exercise and diet.

I now hold my weight at 75 kgs and with drugs exercise and diet can hold it there. Statins included.

[2squirrels]

One of my extra tablets was statins 7 years ago,when I suddenly gained weight for the first time in my life and in 4'years doubled in weight. I had never had a bust but now have and hate it but I've gone in new type of diet and managed to lose weight for the first time.

[Hidden in reply to 2squirrels]

what was the diet?

[2squirrels]

I have always had a very healthy diet as my idea of a treat is fruit not biscuits or cakes but I can't get the exercise (that is no change) it was a most peculiar experience getting to nearly 60 like a lat where now I feel like a beached whale at 66.

[literist in reply to 2squirrels]

I can relate to you as I was called stick insect till I was 60 and now at 63 I have also gained weight for no reason.i can only assume that we do slow down without realising and therefore dont burn calories as easily. I would like to blame statins but I think I would be proved wrong.

[Sonyajba]

Hi 2squirrels

I have definitely found a link between statins and weight gain. During the hellish 8 months I was on them I put on a stone. Came of them 6 months ago and lost the stone.

I know some people suffer weight gain while others don't but in my case the answer is yes statins can cause weight gain

[2squirrels in reply to Sonyajba]

I gained 7 stone in 5 years and have lost three quarters of a stone since just before Christmas and am back on my Fruit n juice diet which is replacing 2 meals with special,shakes and then eating l regular meal trying to keep,away from dairy food. I hope it keeps working!

[Hidden]

Because statins deplete Co enzyme q10 they decrease exercise tolerance and also can cause insulin resistance and in some cases diabetes. Because of this, they can certainly lead to weight gain.

This was widely reported a few months back dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

[worried_muscles]

I was on statins for about six years and have been off of them for about six months. I can honestly say I do not believe statins and weight gain are synonymous. I am overweight (not morbidly obese), and I attribute this overweight to taking in more calories than I can (or do) burn off. My arthritis coupled with my heart disease has me trapped in a vicious circle. I need the exercise to strengthen my heart, but I am limited as to how much exercise my pain allows me to do. Being unable to take anti-inflammatories (because of the heart medication) makes it difficult for me to control my pain... like I say, vicious circle. Back to weight... even if I consume 1200 calories daily, burning off only 1000 will always be the culprit of my weight gain, not statins or most any other medication.

[middleage2843]

I THINK AS WE AGE WE GAIN WEIGHT UNLESS WE DRASTICALLY REDUCE FOOD INTAKE AND INCREASE VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION. I DO NOT THINK IT WAS THE CHOLESTEROL MEDICATION THAT CAUSED WEIGHT GAIN.IF YOU ARE A MALE MAYBE YOUR TESTOSTERONE LEVEL DECREASED.

I NOTICE BECAUSE I TAKE A COMBINATION ALPHA BETA BLOCKER FOR BLOOD MY HEART RATE RARELY GOES ABOVE 100 BEAT PER MINUTE EVEN IF I AM FRANTICALLY EXERCISING ON TREADMILL.

I SURMISE THE BLOCKER LOWERS MY METABOLISM AND THEREFORE WOULD MAKE MY WEIGHT GO UP AND IT HAS BECOME HARDER TO CONTROL MY WEIGHT. BUT I DO NOT THINK IN YOUR CASE IT IS THE SIMVASTATIN OR ATORVASTATIN OR WHICH EVER ONE IT IS YOU TAKE

[TboneJoz]

There is a lot of great experience listed here. I am on a statin and am finding it very difficult to lose weight. I appreciate the comments that weight gain is a result of calorie intake and exercise. However, my diet is low salt/low fat as prescribed by my doctor after my minor heart attack. I work out six times a week, weight lifting/20 minute fat burning cardio 3 times a week and 40 minute cardio sessions three times. Eating an average of 2000-2500 calories a day. I'm just wondering if the statin limits the ability of the liver to utilize stored fat for energy.

[nick45Rick44]

I definitely believe there is a connection between statins and weight. I had a minor stroke, was put on Atorvastatin 40 mg and immediately I found my weight increasing. That was9 months ago and despite eating as normal for me ( ie fruitonly for lunch and breakfast and a low fat evening meal) I excercise 3 times a week for 2.5 hours each day,I have put on 9lbs and am unable to control my weight. It keeps going up and up. I have put myself on 1/2 dose statin now and already after 3 days feel a difference around my waist. Subcutaneous fat ,according to research, can be caused by statins. I have had to go up a size in clothing. I am 73 years of age and was 8 st or lighter. I am now 8 st 10 lb and I cannot stand it!

[nick45Rick44]

As above