Do birth control pills make you eat more?
Asked by maricruzc18 on Mar 17, 2009
in Family & Pregnancy
I’ve been on birth control for 2 months now and I feel like I can’t control my appetite or resist how much I eat. I’m usually good at that and so I’m blaming it on the birth control pills. It’s hard not to binge but I get mad at myself! I’ve only gained 5 lbs but every pound counts to me!
Answer
Based on an extensive study, the official word is that birth control pills do not lead to gain weight for most women. But with that said, progestin-dominant pills may increase the appetite in some women, and both the estrogen and progestin in the pills can lead fluid retention. Talk with your doctor about your weight gain and your concerns about the pill because, with so many different birth control pills available, you should be able to find one that you can tolerate. Of course, binge eating has other causes which you should consider. Learn to understand emotional eating at About.com
