I had a friend ask about “how meds can affect your health i.e. putting weight on and trying to lose it with fitness.” It is actually a rather complicated question and one for which I am only marginally qualified to answer. In most cases, I defer to the physician. It is also the reason I encourage exercise science as the more ideal route to medical school. I, personally, prefer the physician who will focus on lifestyle changes above prescription drugs. Medications, however, are often necessary and one needs to understand how exercise and their medical condition interact (i.e., how the condition affects one’s ability to exercise and how the exercise affects the prognosis for the condition).
In the present case, my friend—a kidney transplant recipient—is battling weight gain associated with the drug, prednisone. (Another friend, who joined the conversation, is taking prednisone for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.) Weight gain is a common side-effect for this and many other drugs.
Personally, I care rather little for the concept of “weight”. Most often, it is just a number—a troublesome number. We weigh ourselves and view the number on the scale as a success or a failure, depending on our circumstance. It is, however, just a number until we examine its meaning. Sometimes weight gain or loss is just a fluctuation in hydration. Sometimes it is a change in body fat. Sometimes it reflects changes in muscle mass. Most often, it is a combination of things. Weight is useful in viewing trends. Weight should never, however, be considered in isolation. We need more data—e.g., the image in the mirror and body composition measurements. Most importantly, we have to understand that we are not defined by our weight!
I suspect that the weight gains my friends experienced are simply water weight. This may be unavoidable. There may be some dietary changes that could offset these. There may be a need to change medications or dosage. These are things to discuss with one’s physician—not a fitness professional. It is not an immediate cause to restrict caloric intake or increase exercise.
In my experience, there is rarely any reason to restrict physical activity in response to a medical condition. The exercise prescription (frequency, intensity, duration, and type of exercise) might be affected, though. Caloric restriction, however, might be unwarranted.
The foremost goal of exercise is health and physical performance. Physical appearance is (should be) of far less importance—and should be considered from the perspective of “best self” and not external pressure to fit someone else’s perceptions “perfection”. Weight is really irrelevant. Most adults can actually benefit from some (muscle) weight gain. Our fat weight is an issue when it negatively affects our health and ability to remain active. Otherwise, one’s weight is nobody’s business.
If there is a need or desire to lose body fat, diet and exercise habits need to change. If weight gains are associated with medical prescriptions, talk with your doctor, if you have concerns. If weight gains are not associated with gains in fat or muscle, it is water. Changes in carbohydrate and/or salt may be beneficial (again discuss this with your doctor), but otherwise this may be of no concern. Visible puffiness may be a cause for some concern (though, likely, unwarranted). If the water-weight gain is only notable on the scale, it may actually be healthy as most of use probably go through life somewhat under-hydrated.
Bottom line: the scale gives you nothing more than a number, your mirror will tell you a bit more than the scale, and health is far more important than appearance.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!