Beta Blockers and Weight Gain

Beta blockers are a type of drug that affects the response of your body to certain nerve impulses. This eventually leads to a decrease in the force and rate of contraction of heart. This, in turn, lowers down the blood pressure and oxygen demand of the heart. One way by which beta blockers produce such responses is by inhibiting the action of the hormone adrenaline. Some examples of commonly prescribed beta blockers are Tenormin, Lopressor, Metoprolol, Carvedilol, Inderal, Bisoprolol and Nebivolol.

Beta blockers find their use in the treatment of migraine, glaucoma, anxiety, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, stage fright, angina and hyperthyroidism. Long term intake of beta blockers may produce certain side effects. The most commonly observed negative effect on the people who take them regularly is weight gain or difficulty to lose weight. Research is still going on to find out the exact cause behind the gain of weight due to beta blockers consumption. The following is a nutshell summation of the facts suggested by various scientific journals trying to establish a relationship between beta blockers and weight gain.

Do Beta Blockers Cause Weight Gain

As already mentioned, beta blockers decrease the rate of heartbeats, and hence blood pressure. Availability of lower amounts of blood to the body means decrease in the availability of nutrients and oxygen to all the body cells. They also increase the oxidation of proteins. All these factors collectively results in the reduction of the rate of metabolism. A slow metabolism further leads to decrease in the consumption of calories. This is the first way that describes how beta blockers and weight gain are related to each other. As per studies, beta blockers cause a reduction in energy expenditure by 4-9%. This raises the percentage of weight gain by almost 11% in the patient who are on long term prescription of beta blockers.

Fat cells have beta receptors on their surfaces. The beta receptors play an important role in the metabolism of fat. Beta blockers block these beta receptors and interfere with the fat cells' metabolic activities. Thus, the long term intake of beta blockers cause accumulation of body fat and decrease in the concentration of fat free tissue. This particularly causes accumulation of fat around the abdominal region.

Majority of humans are unconsciously involved in purposeless movements or fidgeting. Such movements are rarely noticed. They are responsible for energy expenditure and fat burning. Beta blockers impart a feeling of tiredness and fatigue. This causes a marked reduction in fidgeting. In addition to this, beta blockers also decrease the desire to exercise or to do any kind of physical activity.

In case, you are taking beta blocker for any reason, you should keep a close check on your weight. Check your weight everyday. If you happen to notice a gain of three or four pounds within a period of two or three days, you should inform your physician about it. Strictly, follow all the instructions and advises suggested by him. Following a low calorie diet and regularly involving yourself in physical activities will prove to be of great help.