Will The Covid Vaccine Make You Gain Weight?
Will the COVID-19 vaccine make you gain weight? No. Weight gain is not a known side effect of COVID-19 vaccines. This article covers what the side effects actually are and how body weight relates to COVID-19.
The vaccine’s effectiveness…
Rajat Madan, an infectious diseases specialist and assistant professor of Internal Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine, discussed whether COVID-19 vaccines would work as well for people with obesity. According to UC Health,
“Typically, obese individuals have a poor response to the flu vaccine. However, at this time, we do not know if the effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine will be different in obese individuals or not. This is because some of the vaccines that are currently being developed for COVID-19 use a new technology – “mRNA” vaccines – and therefore, the responses could be different.”
That quote came from before the vaccines were rolled out, when researchers didn't yet know how people with obesity would respond. What is clear is that the CDC lists overweight and obesity as risk factors for severe COVID-19, with risk rising sharply as BMI goes up.
Does the vaccine make you gain weight?
The real question of this article, will the vaccine make you gain weight? The CDC's list of possible side effects includes a sore arm, tiredness, headache, aches, chills, nausea and fever. Weight gain is not on it.
Body weight matters more for the illness itself. Early in the pandemic, preprint studies posted on medRxiv linked obesity to a higher risk of dying from COVID-19.
A separate study of NHS electronic health records also found a higher risk of COVID-19 death among people with obesity.
If you notice weight changes after being sick or after a vaccine, look at other causes first, like changes in activity, sleep, stress or eating habits. Talk to your doctor if the change is large or unexplained.
Conclusion
To end off my article, the COVID-19 vaccine does not cause weight gain. COVID-19 vaccine recommendations have changed over time, so ask your healthcare provider whether you should get one, especially if you have obesity or another condition that raises your risk of severe illness.
Be safe my fellow Muscle Evolved reader.
