The adrenal gland secretes a hormone called cortisol, which raises blood glucose by synthesizing glucose in muscles, where stored glycogen turns into glucose. It's also an immune suppressant, helps break down fat, protein, and starch. But too much can cause fat storage in the belly. The adrenal gland also sends signals to the brain that trigger the "fight or flight" feeling you get under stress or danger.
Cortisol is often used to make steroids that treat inflammatory conditions like:
- Lupus
- Crohn's disease
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Skin rash
How do steroids work?
Inflammation cases often come from a problem in the immune system whose job is to spot foreign bodies and attack them. But for unknown reasons, the immune system can attack healthy body cells instead. This leads to damage and swelling. Steroids help fight this damage and swelling by lowering the chemicals that cause inflammation. They also suppress the immune system so healthy cells aren't attacked.
Why do people gain weight?
Steroids have some negative side effects including weight gain through changes in metabolic rate, water balance in the body, and also how the body stores fats, amino acids, proteins, carbs, and glucose. All these factors help cause weight gain by the following changes:
- Increased appetite
- Fluid retention
- Changes in where the body stores fat
But the amount of weight gained isn’t certain and depends on many factors like the dose and duration. Most people who took steroids noticed fat gain in the belly, face, and neck. In general, the higher the steroid dose and the longer you use it, the more likely you are to gain weight.
Note: Small doses taken for a few days to two weeks usually don’t cause many side effects.
Fortunately, once steroids are stopped and you go back to normal life, the weight usually goes down on its own, and this usually happens within 6 months to a year.
Preventing steroid-related weight gain:
Our advice, lady, is always to talk to your doctor. There might be other options or alternatives that don’t cause weight gain. Your doctor might also suggest a different dose schedule or a different type of steroid. For example, your doctor might tell you to take doses every two days so the side effects aren’t obvious or noticeable.
And generally, don’t stop or change your meds without your doctor’s advice. Suddenly stopping them can cause serious health issues like stiff muscles, joint pain, and fever.
To limit weight gain, it’s recommended to use the same strategies you use to control your body weight overall:
- Choose filling foods that are low in calories like fruits and fresh veggies.
- Avoid feeling hungry by eating 5 to 6 small meals a day plus three bigger ones.
- Pick complex carbs rich in fiber that digest slowly. Avoid refined carbs. You can make a varied diet plan yourself so you don’t get bored.
- It’s also important to add a protein source in every meal like meat, cheese, or legumes. Foods with 25-30 grams of protein can help control appetite and weight.
- Don’t underestimate drinking enough water daily because it has many benefits besides making you feel full. It can also burn calories.
- And finally, try to stay active. A few minutes of daily exercise can be more helpful than you think.
