Context:

Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, can lead to both weight gain and loss, influenced by various factors including medication, physical activity, and mental health. Corticosteroids, commonly used to manage lupus symptoms, often cause weight gain by increasing appetite and altering fat storage. Lupus-related conditions such as kidney disease and hypothyroidism can contribute to weight gain through fluid retention and metabolic slowdown. Conversely, lupus can also lead to weight loss due to decreased appetite or digestive issues, with severe cases resulting in cachexia. Managing weight with lupus involves collaboration with healthcare providers to adjust medications, maintain a balanced diet, and incorporate joint-friendly exercises, while also addressing sleep and stress management to mitigate weight changes.

Dive Deeper:

• Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissues, causing symptoms that can lead to both weight gain and loss, depending on the individual's condition and treatment regimen.

• Corticosteroids like prednisone, used to control lupus flares, can cause weight gain by increasing appetite, leading to fluid retention, and altering fat storage, sometimes resulting in Cushing's syndrome with symptoms like a 'moon face'.

• Lupus-related medical conditions, such as kidney disease and hypothyroidism, contribute to weight gain through mechanisms like edema and slowed metabolism, respectively, exacerbating symptoms and increasing health risks.

• Symptoms like joint pain and fatigue reduce physical activity levels in lupus patients, making weight management challenging, as these symptoms discourage movement and promote inactivity.

• Mental health challenges, including stress from managing a chronic illness, can elevate cortisol levels, increasing appetite for high-calorie comfort foods and potentially leading to weight gain.

• Sleep difficulties common among lupus patients disrupt hormonal balance, affecting metabolism and appetite regulation, potentially leading to weight gain.

• Weight loss in lupus can occur due to reduced appetite from stress and mood changes, digestive system impacts, or in severe cases, cachexia, which involves a loss of both fat and muscle tissue and does not respond to increased food intake.