Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses of Weight GainPreventionHow to Lose WeightOther Side Effects
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes of Weight Gain
Prevention
How to Lose Weight
Other Side Effects
Prednisone can cause weight gain because it increases fluid retention and appetite. It can also redistribute fat to areas like your face and midsection, increasing their size.
Weight gain is a commonside effectof this corticosteroid, which is used to treatinflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autoimmune disorders, and other inflammatory conditions. However, there are ways you can limit the amount you gain and potentially lose it once you stop prednisone or take a lower dosage.
Why Prednisone Causes Weight Gain
The higher the dose of prednisone and the longer you take it, the more weight you’re likely to put on.Causes for weight gain include:
Some weight gain attributed to prednisone use may be due to reduced physical activity. This isn’t because of the prednisone itself, but because of the symptoms of many of the conditions it’s used to treat. Symptoms such as pain and fatigue can lead people to be less active.
How much weight will you gain while taking Prednisone?The amount of weight gained while taking prednisone varies from person to person. One study of people taking prednisone for more than three months found that around 10% of those taking the drug gained more than 10% of their body weight. The study also found that women between the ages of 18 and 39 were more likely to gain weight.
How much weight will you gain while taking Prednisone?
The amount of weight gained while taking prednisone varies from person to person. One study of people taking prednisone for more than three months found that around 10% of those taking the drug gained more than 10% of their body weight. The study also found that women between the ages of 18 and 39 were more likely to gain weight.
How Can I Prevent Prednisone Weight Gain?
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Low-Sodium/High-Potassium Diet
Reduce Calories
It can be tricky to avoid gaining weight when prednisone gives you a bigger appetite. To help your efforts:
Choose Lean Protein
Research has shown including a source of protein with each meal can help curb appetite and control weight. Research has shown that meals containing 25 to 30 grams of protein are most effective at curbing appetite and controlling weight.
Sources of lean protein include:
Exercise
Your activities may need to be tailored to your symptoms and condition(s). Try to find something that can help you lose weight now and is sustainable for the long term. A referral to aphysical therapistor certified trainer may be helpful.
When Weight Gain Is a Positive EffectPrednisone weight gain is sometimes a desirable effect, as it can help reverse some unintended weight loss due to IBD or other conditions that reduce the appetite.
When Weight Gain Is a Positive Effect
Prednisone weight gain is sometimes a desirable effect, as it can help reverse some unintended weight loss due to IBD or other conditions that reduce the appetite.
How Can I Lose the Weight?
The fluid retention and increased appetite from prednisone often go away once the medication is stopped or reduced to less than 10 mg/day. However, you should never lower your dose or stop taking prednisone without your healthcare provider’s okay.
Any body fat you gain on prednisone won’t automatically go away once you reduce your dose or stop taking the drug. As with any weight loss, it may help to have a healthful eating plan and get regular exercise.
If prednisone is effective and your health condition is under control, it’ll be easier to eat well and be active again. Check with your healthcare provider about what eating and exercise plans are appropriate for you.
If you have trouble taking off the weight, you may want to see aregistered dietitianfor help with a healthy eating plan.
Fad diet plans and pills promise quick weight loss, but a healthy lifestyle is the best way to lose weight. Slow, steady weight loss gives you the best chance of keeping the weight off.
Other Side Effects of Prednisone
In addition to weight gain, prednisone can cause otherside effectssuch as:
Some side effects can be severe and require medical attention. These include:
Summary
Not everyone gains a lot of weight while taking prednisone, but most people gain some. Weight gain should stop once you’re on a lower dosage or off the drug. Focusing on a healthy lifestyle can help lessen weight gain and help you shed the extra pounds gradually.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.John Hopkins Medicine.Prednisone.Food and Drug Administration.RAYOS (prednisone) delayed-release tablets 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg.UCSF Health. ILD nutrition manual:Predinsone and weight gain.Fardet L, Nazareth I, Petersen I.Long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy and weight gain: a population-based cohort study.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021;60(3):1502-1511. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa289National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Potassium.American Association for the Advancement of Science.Fiber content matters more than food structure for fiber’s benefits.Harvard Medical School.Does drinking water before meals really help you lose weight?Leidy HJ.Increased dietary protein as a dietary strategy to prevent and/or treat obesity. Mo Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;111(1):54-8. PMID: 24645300Leidy HJ, Clifton PM, Astrup A, et al.The role of protein in weight loss and maintenance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jun;101(6):1320S-1329S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.084038Harvard Medical School.High-protein foods: the best protein sources.U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate.Protein foods.Conklin AI, Hong J.Obesity prevention in corticosteroid-treated patients: Use and effectiveness of strategies for weight management.Clin Obes. 2019;9(4):e12312. doi:10.1111/cob.12312National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Prednisone.Additional ReadingUCSF Medical Center.ILD nutrition manual: Prednisone and weight gain.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.John Hopkins Medicine.Prednisone.Food and Drug Administration.RAYOS (prednisone) delayed-release tablets 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg.UCSF Health. ILD nutrition manual:Predinsone and weight gain.Fardet L, Nazareth I, Petersen I.Long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy and weight gain: a population-based cohort study.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021;60(3):1502-1511. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa289National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Potassium.American Association for the Advancement of Science.Fiber content matters more than food structure for fiber’s benefits.Harvard Medical School.Does drinking water before meals really help you lose weight?Leidy HJ.Increased dietary protein as a dietary strategy to prevent and/or treat obesity. Mo Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;111(1):54-8. PMID: 24645300Leidy HJ, Clifton PM, Astrup A, et al.The role of protein in weight loss and maintenance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jun;101(6):1320S-1329S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.084038Harvard Medical School.High-protein foods: the best protein sources.U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate.Protein foods.Conklin AI, Hong J.Obesity prevention in corticosteroid-treated patients: Use and effectiveness of strategies for weight management.Clin Obes. 2019;9(4):e12312. doi:10.1111/cob.12312National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Prednisone.Additional ReadingUCSF Medical Center.ILD nutrition manual: Prednisone and weight gain.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
John Hopkins Medicine.Prednisone.Food and Drug Administration.RAYOS (prednisone) delayed-release tablets 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg.UCSF Health. ILD nutrition manual:Predinsone and weight gain.Fardet L, Nazareth I, Petersen I.Long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy and weight gain: a population-based cohort study.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021;60(3):1502-1511. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa289National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Potassium.American Association for the Advancement of Science.Fiber content matters more than food structure for fiber’s benefits.Harvard Medical School.Does drinking water before meals really help you lose weight?Leidy HJ.Increased dietary protein as a dietary strategy to prevent and/or treat obesity. Mo Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;111(1):54-8. PMID: 24645300Leidy HJ, Clifton PM, Astrup A, et al.The role of protein in weight loss and maintenance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jun;101(6):1320S-1329S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.084038Harvard Medical School.High-protein foods: the best protein sources.U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate.Protein foods.Conklin AI, Hong J.Obesity prevention in corticosteroid-treated patients: Use and effectiveness of strategies for weight management.Clin Obes. 2019;9(4):e12312. doi:10.1111/cob.12312National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Prednisone.
John Hopkins Medicine.Prednisone.
Food and Drug Administration.RAYOS (prednisone) delayed-release tablets 1 mg, 2 mg, 5 mg.
UCSF Health. ILD nutrition manual:Predinsone and weight gain.
Fardet L, Nazareth I, Petersen I.Long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy and weight gain: a population-based cohort study.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021;60(3):1502-1511. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa289
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Potassium.
American Association for the Advancement of Science.Fiber content matters more than food structure for fiber’s benefits.
Harvard Medical School.Does drinking water before meals really help you lose weight?
Leidy HJ.Increased dietary protein as a dietary strategy to prevent and/or treat obesity. Mo Med. 2014 Jan-Feb;111(1):54-8. PMID: 24645300
Leidy HJ, Clifton PM, Astrup A, et al.The role of protein in weight loss and maintenance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jun;101(6):1320S-1329S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.114.084038
Harvard Medical School.High-protein foods: the best protein sources.
U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate.Protein foods.
Conklin AI, Hong J.Obesity prevention in corticosteroid-treated patients: Use and effectiveness of strategies for weight management.Clin Obes. 2019;9(4):e12312. doi:10.1111/cob.12312
National Library of Medicine Medline Plus.Prednisone.
UCSF Medical Center.ILD nutrition manual: Prednisone and weight gain.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
