Most women assume that when they start taking birth control, their weight will creep up. Now, we finally know the truth. Researchers recently put this theory to the test and analyzed three types of contraceptives. Find out which one packed on the pounds...
Scientists at the University of Texas at Galveston followed more than 700 women on birth control over the course of three years. Some of them took oral contraceptives, others used non-hormonal methods (like condoms or getting their tubes tied) and the last group used the birth control shot, called DMPA. Researchers discovered that women on the birth control shot gained an average of 11 pounds, increased their body fat by 3.4 percent and were more likely to become obese.
"The findings are worrisome; however, more research is needed to determine if DMPA use directly contributes to obesity-related conditions and puts patients' overall health at risk," said lead author Abbey Berenson, M.D. More than two million American women use the birth control shot. It's popularity has grown because it's relatively cheap, has a low failure rate and doesn't need to be taken every day.
And in case you were wondering, women taking oral contraception did not gain more weight than people using non-hormonal methods, but their fat-to-muscle ratio did increase slightly.
If you're thinking of quitting BC just to shave off a few pounds, think again. Dancing with the Stars's Cheryl Burke blamed her recent weight gain on stopping birth control. "I decided over the summer to stop taking birth control pills. I did it thinking that I was going to lose more weight for the season," Burke has said. "But it actually did the opposite. It made me gain weight."
How many of you guys are on birth control? What kind do you use? Has it affected your weight at all?
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