If you’re taking an antidepressant like Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, or Celexa, let’s start with the most important point:
Please do not stop taking your medication without first speaking with the healthcare provider who prescribed it. Abruptly discontinuing SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can lead to withdrawal symptoms, worsening depression or anxiety, and other serious complications. If you’re wondering whether your medication is still the best fit for you, that’s a conversation to have with your prescribing provider, not something to figure out by going cold turkey because a stranger on TikTok swore celery juice cured their anxiety.
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way… Let’s talk about a question we hear surprisingly often:
“I’m doing everything right… so, why is losing weight still so difficult?”
For many people, the answer isn’t quite as simple as “eat less and move more.” Sometimes medications are part of the picture. Not always. But sometimes.
And if you’ve noticed that losing weight became significantly harder after starting an SSRI like Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, or Prozac, you’re certainly not imagining things.
The short answer? Yes… but it’s complicated. Not everyone gains weight on SSRIs, and not every SSRI affects weight equally.
Some people actually lose some weight initially, particularly when depression or anxiety had previously reduced their appetite. Others experience gradual weight gain over months or years.
Researchers believe several factors may contribute:
Certain SSRIs appear to have a stronger association with weight gain than others. Paxil (paroxetine) is generally considered one of the more weight-promoting SSRIs, while Prozac (fluoxetine) tends to have less of an effect for many people. Lexapro (escitalopram), Zoloft (sertraline), and Celexa (citalopram) often fall somewhere in the middle.
Again, everyone responds differently. One person’s miracle medication is another person’s “Why do my jeans suddenly hate me?” That’s biology for you.
Here’s where things get interesting. At MyHealth1st, we don’t like stopping at the first explanation that seems convenient. Yes, medications can influence weight. But they may not be the whole story. Mental health itself often affects:
And those same factors also influence body weight. So, instead of asking,
“Is my medication causing weight gain?”
we often ask,
“What else might be contributing to both my mental health symptoms and my difficulty losing weight?”
That question tends to open a lot more doors.
At MyHealth1st, we believe mental wellness is about far more than neurotransmitters alone. The traditional model often focuses primarily on serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine. Those chemicals certainly matter, but your brain doesn’t operate inside a vacuum. It operates inside… well… you. Your brain depends on nutrients. Hormones. Healthy blood sugar. Inflammation levels. Sleep. Movement. Social connection. A healthy gut. And about a thousand other tiny biological processes quietly working behind the scenes every second.
When even a few of those systems become imbalanced, mental health can suffer. Rather than asking only, “Which medication should we use?” we also ask:
Because again, the brain isn’t floating around independently. It’s attached to an entire human being.
One example of this whole-person philosophy is the Walsh Protocol, developed by scientist William Walsh. The Walsh Protocol is part of a broader field called orthomolecular psychiatry, which explores how nutrient status, mineral balance, genetics, and biochemical individuality may influence mental health.
Rather than assuming everyone with depression or anxiety shares the same underlying cause, practitioners look for potential biochemical imbalances that may be contributing to symptoms.
Examples include:
These factors won’t explain every case of depression or anxiety. But for some people, they may represent important pieces of the puzzle.
Our own Dr. Lari Young is an Advanced Walsh Practitioner, allowing her to evaluate patients through this more individualized biochemical lens.
This approach isn’t about replacing conventional medicine. It’s about asking whether there may be additional opportunities to support the brain beyond medication alone. Sometimes there are. Sometimes there aren’t. But the only way to know is to look.
With cheap, high-calorie and low-nutrient “food” more widely available than ever, many of us are walking around starved of the nutrition our brains and bodies need to thrive (even if we’re overweight). Imagine trying to build a house without nails, or bake bread without flour. Your brain works the same way! Neurotransmitters require raw materials. If those materials are lacking, the brain has a harder job to do and likely won’t function optimally. Some nutrients that deserve attention include:
Zinc plays important roles in neurotransmitter production, immune function, and brain signaling. Low zinc has been associated with depression in numerous studies.
Copper is an essential mineral that supports brain function and neurotransmitter production. In orthomolecular psychiatry, practitioners often assess the balance between copper and zinc, as imbalances may contribute to mood and anxiety symptoms in some people.
Magnesium participates in hundreds of biochemical reactions throughout the body and supports muscle relaxation, sleep quality, stress response, nervous system regulation, and more. Unfortunately, many adults consume less than optimal amounts.
Vitamins B6, B12, and folate help support methylation and neurotransmitter production. Deficiencies may contribute to fatigue, poor concentration, and mood changes.
Vitamin D receptors exist throughout the brain. Low levels have been associated with depression, fatigue, and impaired immune function. Optimizing nutrient status isn’t a magic cure, but expecting your brain to function optimally while running low on key nutrients is a bit like asking your phone to survive all day with a 12% battery. Technically possible… but probably not ideal.
Ever skipped breakfast, had coffee for lunch, then found yourself irrationally angry because someone breathed too loudly? Congratulations! You’ve experienced blood sugar. Large swings in glucose don’t just affect energy levels. They influence:
A diet centered around quality protein, healthy fats, fiber-rich vegetables (when appropriate), and minimally processed carbohydrates often promotes steadier blood sugar, more consistent energy, and improved appetite regulation.
Interestingly, the same habits that improve metabolic health frequently support mental wellbeing too… Funny how the body keeps connecting everything.
We know. You’ve heard it before. But here’s the thing: Exercise isn’t simply about burning calories. Regular movement improves:
Strength training, in particular, helps preserve lean muscle during weight loss while improving insulin sensitivity and supporting long-term metabolic function. Walking deserves an honorable mention too. It’s underrated, doesn’t require any equipment, and doesn’t produce the drastic increase in hunger that more strenuous forms of exercise often can.
Many patients blame themselves for losing motivation, gaining weight, sleeping poorly, or feeling emotionally flat. Sometimes they aren’t lacking willpower. Sometimes they’re lacking hormones. Hormones influence virtually every system involved in physical and mental wellbeing.
Declining estrogen and progesterone may contribute to:
Men with low testosterone may experience:
When clinically appropriate, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may be one tool among many to help restore hormonal balance and improve quality of life. Like any treatment, it’s not appropriate for everyone. But there are many ways to approach hormone optimization, and it deserves consideration when symptoms and laboratory findings point in that direction.
Your digestive system and your brain communicate constantly. Researchers often refer to this as the gut-brain axis. The trillions of bacteria living inside your intestines influence:
Emerging research continues exploring how the microbiome may affect mood, anxiety, cognition, and even eating behaviors. While we’re still learning exactly how these relationships work, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: A healthier gut often supports a healthier brain. Eating a diverse diet rich in fiber, colorful plants, fermented foods when tolerated, and minimally processed foods may help support a thriving microbiome.
Modern medicine often divides people into separate systems based on what symptoms are (mostly) present. Heart. Brain. Hormones. Digestive tract. Orthopedics. Dermatology. Unfortunately, your body didn’t get that memo. Everything communicates.
Poor sleep increases hunger hormones. Blood sugar instability increases inflammation. Inflammation affects mood. Hormones influence metabolism. Nutrition affects hormone production. Exercise improves sleep. Sleep improves mood. Mood affects motivation. Motivation affects movement. Movement affects blood sugar. And round and round we go. Health isn’t a collection of isolated body parts. It’s an ecosystem.
Here are some things that rarely show up on a lab report: Meaning. Purpose. Belonging. Community. Time outside. Gratitude. Service. Faith. Connection.
Yet these may profoundly influence emotional wellbeing. Humans weren’t designed to spend fourteen hours a day staring at glowing rectangles while communicating primarily through memes and reaction emojis. We evolved around families. In villages. Communities. Shared meals. Sunlight. Frequent movement. Nature. Purposeful work. Face-to-face conversations. Helping one another.
We’ve gotten so far away from this, it’s no wonder so many of us feel so bad all the time. Many people today have hundreds of online “friends” and simultaneously report unprecedented levels of loneliness. We’re more digitally connected than ever. Yet often more emotionally disconnected.
While technology is an incredible tool, it’s not a particularly good substitute for genuine human connection.
With that said, sometimes improving mental health isn’t about adding another supplement. Sometimes it’s calling an old friend. Joining a volunteer organization. Taking a walk in the woods. Going to church or synagogue. Picking up a hobby. Stopping your social media scroll long enough to notice that sunsets still exist, and that trees and flowers are beautiful. The human nervous system craves real life!
If you’re struggling to lose weight while taking an SSRI like Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, or Celexa, medication could certainly be part of the story, but it may not be the entire story.
Looking at nutrition, exercise, metabolic health, hormones, nutrient status, gut health, sleep, relationships, stress, and purpose often reveals opportunities to improve both physical and mental wellbeing.
That’s the philosophy we embrace at MyHealth1st. We believe in treating people, not just diagnoses. In asking better questions. In looking beneath the surface. And in recognizing that lasting health rarely comes from addressing just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
If you’re frustrated by stubborn weight gain, low energy, poor motivation, or simply feel like your health has been heading in the wrong direction, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
Our MyHealth1st Health Coaches can help you develop a personalized nutrition and exercise plan designed to support your goals while working alongside your broader healthcare team.
In addition to health coaching, MyHealth1st offers a Level 2 Biomarker Assessment and Level 3 Comprehensive Assessment designed to uncover potential root causes that standard checkups may miss. Depending on your individual needs, these workups may include advanced biomarker testing, hormone evaluation, nutritional assessments, metabolic health analysis, and other personalized investigations to help create a more complete picture of your health.
Whether you’re looking to improve your metabolic health, lose weight, build healthier habits, or simply feel better in your own body, we’re here to help you create a sustainable plan that fits your life.
Contact us today and take the first step toward understanding the bigger picture behind your health. Sometimes the smallest change becomes the first domino that sets everything else in motion.
Erin is a National Board Certified and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach with a passion for fitness, holistic wellness, and ethical food production.
