Weight and metabolic effects of dietary weight loss and exercise interventions in postmenopausal antidepressant medication users and non-users: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

Antidepressants may attenuate the effects of diet and exercise programs. We compared adherence and changes in body measures and biomarkers of glucose metabolism and inflammation between antidepressant users and non-users in a 12-month randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Overweight or obese, postmenopausal women were assigned to: diet (10% weight loss goal, N=118); moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise (225 min/week, N=117); diet+exercise (N=117); and control (N=87) in Seattle, WA 2005-2009. Women using antidepressants at baseline were classified as users (N=109). ANCOVA and generalized estimating equation approaches, respectively, were used to compare adherence (exercise amount, diet session attendance, and changes in percent calorie intake from fat, cardiopulmonary fitness, and pedometer steps) and changes in body measures (weight, waist and percent body fat) and serum biomarkers (glucose, insulin, homeostasis assessment-insulin resistance, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) between users and non-users. An interaction term (intervention×antidepressant use) tested effect modification.

RESULTS

There were no differences in adherence except that diet session attendance was lower among users in the diet+exercise group (P<0.05 vs. non-users). Changes in body measures and serum biomarkers did not differ by antidepressant use (Pinteraction>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dietary weight loss and exercise improved body measures and biomarkers of glucose metabolism and inflammation independent of antidepressant use.