Hormonal birth control and weight are commonly believed to be closely linked and many people think that using hormonal birth control will lead to weight gain. As several studies in the early 2000s showed, however, the link between birth control and weight is not as clear as previously believed. A number of clinicians have attempted to counter the pervasive myth that suggests that taking birth control will cause people to gain weight.
Studies on birth control use show that, controlling for other factors, weight gain while using birth control is actually minimal, especially with low dose methods. Older, higher-dose birth control products are associated with some weight gain and probably created the common association between birth control and weight gain. However, most modern formulations are so low-dose that they should not cause a noticeable change in patient weight.
Historically, it was believed that the hormonal changes in the body caused by birth control usage led to water retention, increased development of breast tissue, and food cravings that caused people to gain weight. Researchers noted that some people taking birth control appeared to gain weight, and linked this with the pill, rather than with natural aging. Something to be aware of with birth control and weight gain is that many people start birth control in their teens, and teens in particular have bodies in a rapid state of flux that can make it difficult to differentiate between natural physical changes and medication-induced weight gain.
People who are just starting to take hormonal birth control should follow the directions associated with it carefully, and should maintain their normal diet and exercise routines as they adjust to the hormones. It is not advised to take breaks or vacations from hormonal birth control. If the medication causes unwanted side effects, as happens in some women, a doctor can prescribe a different drug or provide information about non-hormonal birth control options. It is also important to be aware that birth control does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
The more serious concern with birth control and weight is that people at high weights are more likely to experience birth control failure. As with other medications, birth control dosage is calculated for a person of average size in order to make it as effective as possible. Creating standardized doses also allows companies to mass produce and package their birth control, rather than obliging pharmacists to formulate it specifically for individual patients. However, with heavy patients, the hormone dosage may be too low to effectively prevent pregnancy in some cases.
