But prednisone comes with a range of unwelcome side effects, one of which is weight gain. According to a study published in January 2020 in the journal Lung, participants taking prednisone reported increased appetite resulting in weight gain. And a review published in February 2021 in the journal Obesity noted that long-term prednisone use affected body weight, appetite, and body composition. Weight gain from prednisone often appears as fat deposits on various parts of your body, such as at the base or back of your neck, around your abdomen, or as what’s called “moon face,” when changes in where fat lies make your face appear rounder and wider.
How to Control Weight Gain on Prednisone
If weight gain is particularly bothersome, talk to your doctor about modifying your drug regimen. You should never stop taking medicine on your own. Steroids need to be tapered slowly under your doctor’s guidance. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, rapid withdrawal of steroids may cause fatigue, joint pain, muscle stiffness, or fever. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a different corticosteroid, like budenoside. This alternative is “quickly metabolized by the liver, thereby reducing corticosteroid-related side effects, and appears to be as effective as prednisone,” says Bedford. Furthermore, employing a few simple nutritional strategies while you’re on prednisone can help you avoid the worst of the weight gain — and stay healthier overall, says Scarlata: Additional reporting by Jordan M. Davidson.
