What are some weight-loss tips/routines for persons taking long-term steroids such as prednisone or hydrocortisone?

Hi! I’ve always struggled with weight and have grown up on steroids for a long time to control another condition, and there is no other option for me right now because it is for the rest of my life. It makes it difficult to lose weight, but I’ve recently been working on improving my lifestyle. Is there anything that could aid me on my journey? Thanks!

Include protein in every meal (meat, cheese, lentils, etc.). According to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, meals with 25-30 grammes of proteinTrusted Source are the most effective at suppressing appetite and regulating weight.

Drink water. It not only fills you up but also burns calories. A study published in the International Journal of Obesity discovered that overweight youngsters who drank merely 10 millilitres per kilogramme of body weight of cold water raised their resting energy expenditure by 25%.Trusted Source for more than 40 minutes after drinking.

Fluid retention is the most prevalent cause of weight gain when using prednisone. Consuming a low sodium diet is one strategy to reduce the quantity of water you retain. Sodium binds to water within the body and aids in the maintenance of fluid equilibrium both within and outside of cells. When you eat a high-sodium diet, your body uses the excess salt to hold onto extra water, creating fluid retention. The University of San Francisco Medical Centre suggests limiting your daily intake to less than 2,000 milligrammes. Another strategy to control fluid retention is to consume enough potassium-rich foods (about 4,700 milligrammes per day). Potassium lowers sodium levels and promotes urine production, which helps flush out excess fluids.

Prednisone’s impact on appetite and metabolism might induce weight gain, making it difficult to lose weight fast while on a low dose (5 mg). However, here are some broad guidelines:

Balanced Diet: Eat a calorie-controlled diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

meal Control: Be cautious of your meal proportions to avoid overeating.

Regular Exercise: Engage in physical activity that is appropriate for your health. Even simple exercises, such as walking, can assist.

Pednisone raises insulin, glucagon, and blood sugar. For a healthy, athletic person, this can improve athletic performance. It increases energy availability to muscles and eliminates a lot of uncomfortable inflammation, which can cause muscle weakness. It is unlikely to benefit a sedentary diabetic unless they have chronic inflammation and nothing else helps. Losing weight is possible for almost everyone if they follow a daily caloric deficit diet for an extended period of time. The water weight balance can change substantially very fast depending on the level of ions, glucose reserves, and red blood cell count/plasma proteins, all of which attract water. Water balance is in constant flux. Regardless of what people eat, healthy kidneys perform an excellent job of maintaining proper water balance.

I believe it is really difficult to lose weight while taking prednisone.

You can counteract this by consuming foods low in salt. More fruits and vegetables. Cut back on sugar. Prednisone increases your appetite, so you may want to limit your portion sizes and encourage your body to eat less.

Exercise is also part of it. As your dosage decreases, your appetite will return to what it was before you started taking prednisone. Your face will also revert to its usual contour, not puffy anymore.

I do a few things to lose the weight I gained from medications. I follow a high-protein, low-carb diet and workout. I prefer running and weightlifting. I also aim to eat enough to nourish my body for the day rather than starving myself in order to lose weight. It took time, but I’ve shed 65 pounds. The majority of the weight was accumulated as a result of a medication in that family and another medication in another family that allows for simple weight gain but difficult weight loss. So 65 pounds down, 35 more to go.

Prednisone, as far as I know, should be examined by your physician every 1 or 2 months for any adverse responses it may create in your body. Weaning off cannot be done abruptly without blood testing. I recommend that you consult with your doctor about reducing the dosage.

Although it normally wears off, a good run can also help. :smiling_face:. Always stay safe!

Speaking from personal experience, I was on them for 8 months and gained a lot of weight during that period. After I was taken off of drugs, I naturally began to lose weight. However, it was a very gradual and lengthy process, and it took me two and a half years to lose the weight I had naturally for years before to the treatment. Walking a lot and eating healthier also helped.

No. If anything, it promotes weight growth. It’s also an extremely serious medicine that should never be used unless specifically prescribed by a doctor.

The most productive and profitable line of action is to schedule an appointment with the physician who originally prescribed the medicine. Express concern about weight increase. After determining the patient’s needs, the doctor might devise a weight loss plan or recommend them to a nutritionist.

You lose weight by eating less calories than your body burns. This suggests you should eat less. Look for an online weight reduction calorie calculator. Enter your information, and it will calculate how many calories you should consume to lose weight. If you don’t follow these instructions, you won’t lose weight. The prednisone did not make you gain weight. You gained weight because you ate too many calories.

You should seek counsel from the physician who prescribed your meds, or someone he or she refers you to, as they will have complete access to information regarding your illness, treatment, and history. Nobody on Quora or elsewhere on the internet can or should provide you with effective and safe weight loss advice unless they are fully aware of these factors. It could be quite risky for you to follow such advice if you receive it.