A new study released on Monday by Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute reveals the varying impacts of commonly prescribed antidepressants on body weight. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, these findings provide essential insights for clinicians and patients concerned about the side effects of antidepressant medications.
Key Findings of the Study
The Harvard-led research examined the impact of eight commonly prescribed first-line antidepressants on weight gain over two years. Analyzing electronic health records of 183,118 adults from eight U.S. health systems who began taking the antidepressants between 2010 and 2019, the study included sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, bupropion, duloxetine, and venlafaxine.Researchers identified small but notable differences in weight changes among the medications. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) users experienced a slight average weight loss over time compared to sertraline (Zoloft) users, the reference group.
