Antidepressants + Stress + High-Fat Diet = Long-Term Weight Gain

Taking antidepressants even for a short period of time can lead to significant weight gain when combined with stress and a high-fat diet, according to an Australian study in rats. The finding is significant because millions of prescriptions for antidepressants are written each year -- at the same time that obesity rates are climbing. For the study, male rats were treated with the antidepressant fluoxitine after induced stress. These animals had significantly higher weight gain than control animals. Researchers concluded that short-term exposure to stress and antidepressants – rather than a high-calorie, high-fat diet alone – leads to long-term body weight gain.