# Doctor Dopers: can the Pill hinder weight loss? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564 "2004-01-09T02:47:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564/1 "2004-01-09T02:47:50Z")
Some women gain weight when they go on the Pill, right? Is it possible for the Pill to hinder weight loss? If so, why, and what can be done about it? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564/2 "2004-01-09T03:27:57Z")
Latest studies show that there is no apparent correlation between oral contraceptives and weight gain. [http://www.fhi.org/en/AboutFHI/News+Releases/april222003researchfindsno.htm](http://www.fhi.org/en/AboutFHI/News+Releases/april222003researchfindsno.htm) I don’t vouch for the research, but I would not be surprised if its true. I didn’t find any good studies with data on whether oral contraceptives hinder weight loss or not. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564/3 "2004-01-09T03:40:34Z")
Friends give me anecdotal evidence more of weight _redistribution_ than of weight gain per se. They say they notice more fat around the usual gynecological fat deposits - hips, thighs, butt, and breasts. As far as I can tell, that’s not the sort of thing that would be taken into account in the metastudy cited by Quadgop, so both could be true. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564/4 "2004-01-09T03:55:24Z")
IANAD, but I gained weight on the pill. I quit, and stopped gaining. I tried again, lost for a while and then gained again. I see a correlation. As for hindering loss, I’ve not tried dieting while on the pill so I have no anecdotal evidence. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564/5 "2004-01-09T04:02:41Z")
My boobs got bigger when I went on Marvalon. They’ve stayed bigger too. Yea me! My Dr. has suggested that any weight you gain on the pill is water weight, and probably amounts to about 5 lbs, give or take. (I asked.) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564/6 "2004-01-09T05:53:46Z")
My doctor said that from what she had observed with her patients, some felt hungrier when they were on the pill, so they ate more. Which (obviously) led to weight gain. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doctor-dopers-can-the-pill-hinder-weight-loss/223564/7 "2004-01-09T06:02:14Z")
I’m not gaining weight. I’m exercising my ass off, watching what I eat and losing extremely slowly. I’ve been within the same 3 pound range for about 6 months and it’s driving me nuts. I figured maybe the Pill was doing it.