Can Lupus Cause Weight Gain?

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which your immune system is mistakenly attacks healthy tissues throughout your body. Weight changes are common with lupus. Some people gain weight, while others lose weight. Both can affect health and response to treatment. Understanding what causes weight changes when you have lupus can help you better manage the condition.

With lupus, weight gain and loss can occur for several reasons. These weight changes are not always easy to predict and may vary from person to person.

The treatments used to manage lupus can affect your weight. For example, many people notice weight gain when taking up certain lupus drugs, including steroids. Complications and symptoms associated with lupus can also cause weight changes. Some people may lose weight due to a decrease in health problems with appetite or intestine.

Bringing an additional weight can also worsen lupus symptoms. People living with obesity and lupus tend to have more inflammation, joint pain and a higher risk of complications such as heart disease.

The lupus affects everyone differently and weight gain or loss can occur for several reasons.

Side effects of drugs

The drugs used to treat lupus are a common reason for weight changes. These drugs include corticosteroids, such as prednisone, which can help reduce inflammation and control lupus rashes.

Although steroid drugs can work well for symptoms, they often cause weight gain. This is probably because steroids can increase appetite, keep your body holding an additional liquid and change the way your body stores fat.

Many people who have long taken steroids develop Cushing’s syndrome. This condition causes an accumulation of fat around the belly and the upper back. A common symptom is the face of the moon, where the face becomes more round and more blowing due to the retention of liquids and the redistribution of fats.

The more steroids you take, the more you may notice changes in your weight.

Lupus -related medical conditions

If lupus causes renal disease (nephritis of lupus), you can develop edema. Edema swells that occurs when too much liquid accumulates in your body tissues. With edema, you may notice swollen eyes, swollen ankles or swollen fingers. This accumulation of liquid can appear as a weight gain on the scale.

Another current problem with lupus is the thyroid problems. Hypothyroidism (subactive thyroid, where your body is not enough thyroid hormones) is more common in people with lupus. This can slow down your metabolism. If you develop hypothyroidism with lupus, you could gain weight, you feel very tired or have a swollen face.

Your health professional can check your thyroid levels with a blood test and prescribe drugs if necessary.

Reduced physical activity

Many people with lupus experience extreme fatigue, which can make it more difficult to remain physically active.

Joint and muscle pain is other lupus symptoms that can limit your physical activity. Your joints can be steep, swollen or painful, especially in the morning or after sitting. Muscle pain and weakness can make physical activity even minimal. When these symptoms go away, it is natural to want to move less to avoid pain.

Mental health challenges

Living with lupus and adapting to life with chronic disease can increase your stress levels. When you are stressed, your body also produces more cortisol, often called stress hormone. The high levels of cortisol are linked to an accumulation of belly fat.

Higher cortisol levels can also increase your appetite, especially for comforting foods rich in fat and sugar. Turning to food for comfort when you feel stressed, anxious or depressed can cause unwanted weight.

Sleep difficulties

Many people with lupus find it difficult to sleep. Sleep helps regulate hormones, maintain metabolism and manage appetite, which are all connected to the weight. When you don’t sleep well, your body’s hunger hormones can be unbalanced, which can cause weight gain.

Reduced appetite

Although stress and depressed mood can sometimes cause weight gain, this can also reduce appetite. When mood changes decrease your appetite, you can undergo weight loss.

If the lupus affects your digestive system, you can also undergo a decrease in appetite and involuntarily lose weight.

A serious form of weight loss called cachexia can occur in some people with lupus. Cachexia is an involuntary loss of fat and muscle tissue. This does not improve with increased diet. You are more likely to develop this type of weight loss if lupus affects your kidneys, blood cells or blood vessels.

It is not always possible to control weight changes with lupus, but these strategies can help support your overall health and reduce the risk of weight changes:

• Talk to a medication health care provider: You may wonder if your current medications can affect your weight. Sometimes the adjustment of your dosage or the transition to alternatives can help minimize the side effects related to weight.
• Focus on anti-inflammatory foods: Colorful fruits, vegetables, fatty fish and nuts can help fight inflammation.
• Find joint exercises: Swimming, walking and yoga can be soft for your joints while offering weight management advantages.
• Break activities in short sessions: If the longer training is too tiring, try movement breaks from 5 to 10 minutes more.
• Prioritize the quality of sleep: Creating a coherent bedtime routine and keeping your room cool and dark can help improve sleep.
• Practice stress management daily: Meditation, deep breathing or mild stretching can help reduce stress hormones associated with weight gain.
• Create a support network: Support groups, whether online or in person, can provide encouragement and practical advice to manage weight changes associated with lupus.

Inform your health care provider if you notice unexplained weight changes, including weight gain or loss, without changes in your diet or your activity level. It is important to mention any fatigue or swelling in your legs or your face. These symptoms could mean that lupus affects your organs or your medication needs adjustment.

Try to attend your follow -up visits so that your health care provider can monitor weight changes. Be open to all the weight management challenges you encounter, whether side effects of drugs, pain that limits activity or emotional diet. Being open allows your health care team to support you in managing your weight and lupus symptoms.

With lupus, you can gain weight from drugs like steroids, which can increase appetite and change the way your body stores fat. Lupus symptoms such as joint pain and fatigue make the stay physically active, contributing to weight gain. Medical problems such as kidney problems or thyroid diseases can also cause weight gain.

Weight loss can also occur, especially if lupus affects your digestive system or appetite.

Managing your weight with lupus means working with your health care team, possibly adjusting medication, eating a balanced diet and finding ways to move your body. Regular examinations with your health care provider can help you monitor weight changes and keep your weight and lupus under control.