Oral Presentation ANZOS-OSSANZ-AOCO Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

SSRI antidepressant use potentiates weight gain in the context of unhealthy lifestyles: Results from a four-year Australian follow-up study (#147)

Zumin Shi 1 , Evan Atlantis 1 2 , Anne W Taylor 1 , Tiffany Gill 1 3 , Kay Price 4 , Sarah L Appleton 1 , Ma-Li Wong 5 , Julio Licinio 5
  1. Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide
  2. Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
  3. University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
  4. University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA
  5. South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and Flinders University, Adelaide, SA

Objective:

To examine the association between antidepressant use and weight gain, as well as the interaction with lifestyle factors.

Design:

Longitudinal study

Setting and participants:

We used data from 2334 adults from two stages (4.4 years apart) of the North West Adelaide Health Study, including validated diet and lifestyle questionnaires, measured body weight, and linked pharmaceutical data.

Main outcome measures:

Body weight change

Results:

188 (8.1%) participants had a mean annual number of 1-2 antidepressant prescriptions, and 212 (9.1%) had over 2 prescriptions. The mean annual weight gain was 0.12, 0.18 and 0.28 kg in non-users, low (1-2 prescriptions/year) and high (>2 prescriptions/year) antidepressant users, respectively. In multivariable regression models, antidepressant use was positively associated with weight gain: high antidepressant users gained an extra 0.22 (95%CI 0.00-0.44) kg per year. This association was mainly due to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use. High SSRI users gained 0.48 (95%CI 0.20-0.76) kg more than non-users. There was no association between tricyclics or other antidepressant use and weight gain. The association between SSRI use and weight gain was mainly seen among those with high intake of Western diet, sedentary activity, and smoking.

Conclusions:

Exposure to SSRIs potentiates weight gain, exceeding what occurs in the context of Western diet, sedentarism, and smoking without antidepressant exposure.