If anti-depressants cause weight gain, then why do anorexics who are on them still lose weight?

I know this question seems strange, but I'm curious as to why studies show that weight gain is very common when someone is on an anti-depressant, even if their appetite, food intake, and activity level remains the same.

Answers:
There are several reasons. One is that, of the antidepressants that do cause weight gain (some are weight neutral or cause weight loss), many of them do so by increasing appetite. Even if this happens, the anorexic person will likely not eat more in response.

The anorexic person will continue to lose weight. In a sad way, it's like cannibalism---the body will feast on itself, causing muscle atrophy. Anorexia deprives the body of protein and prevents the normal metabolism of fat. In an effort to protect itself, the body slows down.

Though in starvation mode, people with anorexia continue to lose weight as muscle deteriorates and they lose bone density (due to loss of bone calcium). Even when in this mode one's body will continue to have some capacity to metabolize, and will therefore burn some calories.

I hope the anorexic person on anti-depressants visits their psychiatrist on a regular basis.

If they are losing weight, maybe the psychiatrist can switch them to another medication.
Different anti-depressants affect different people differently. Some people gain weight, others loose. Anorexics should be working with their doc and monitoring this closely.
umm.. I'm not sure where you got that from, but the pills I was on were also prescribed to obese people to help them lose weight.

and when I was on said pills, I lost weight (though, it was most likely caused by an increase in activity).

Interesting, though.
I am surprised that an anorexic would even take anything considering it might make them gain weight or take them longer to lose weight
From my understanding (from the side-effects warning in the pill packets) those who are underweight have a tendency to lose weight when on anti-depressants and those who are overweight have a tendency to gain weight. It seems strange, but from personal experience being in the "nearly underweight" category, I have found it true, I lose weight on them. But then anti-depressants lesson my appetite and consequently my food intake because of slight nausea. Who knows. Maybe the pills make you obsess less about food so you don't care if you gain a few pounds.
because anorexics have a completely different disease that has to be adressed and treated with therapy and treatment if it is to be arrested, the anti depressants are for depression not anorexia.
I can't speak for all of them, but the ones who binge and purge end up ejecting half the medication each time they do it, so it never accumulates in their bodies. I guess those are bulimics, though.

Anyway, I wonder if most anorexics take their meds the way they are supposed to, especially if they KNOW it would lead to weight gain. I suppose if I were anorexic, I wouldn't take a med that would make me fat.

Love, Jack.
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