{"id":635953,"date":"2026-04-27T09:30:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T13:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=635953"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:31:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T19:31:28","slug":"does-humira-cause-weight-gain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/does-humira-cause-weight-gain\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Humira cause weight gain?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have an autoimmune disease, you might be familiar with<\/span> biologic medications<\/span><\/a> that block an overactive immune system response.<\/span> Humira<\/span><\/a> (adalimumab) is a brand-name biologic injection that is classified as a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor. It is FDA-approved to treat autoimmune conditions, including <\/span>arthritis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>plaque psoriasis<\/span><\/a>, ankylosing spondylitis, <\/span>Crohn’s disease<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>ulcerative colitis<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Humira is not known to cause weight gain, but it\u2019s important to tell your healthcare provider if you experience unexplained weight changes on this medication.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Can Humira cause weight gain?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Clinical trials of Humira<\/span><\/a> did not pinpoint weight gain as a<\/span>\u00a0side effect<\/span><\/a>. However,<\/span> research<\/span><\/a> has linked <\/span>TNF-inhibiting drugs<\/span><\/a> to a slight increase in body weight or <\/span>body mass index<\/span><\/a> (BMI).<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, findings are mixed. \u201cIn<\/span> one study<\/span><\/a>, it was found that people with rheumatoid arthritis did not gain more weight,\u201d says<\/span> Oluwatosin Ajao, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified obesity medicine specialist in Houston, Texas. “<\/span>Another stud<\/span><\/a>y showed that in people with psoriatic arthritis, TNF blocker treatment may cause weight changes to happen, but they are usually small and may be part of normal weight gain over time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Data<\/span><\/a> shows that when weight gain does occur during TNF blocker treatment, it\u2019s relatively mild and slow, about five pounds over time, according to<\/span> Chrissie Ott, MD<\/span><\/a>, a double board-certified internist, pediatrician, and metabolic health expert in Portland, Oregon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps most importantly, experts suggest that Humira-related weight gain may be a case of correlation, not causation. \u201cIt is likely caused by a few things,\u201d Dr. Ajao says.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Indirect factors influencing weight<\/span><\/h2>\n

Research is unclear on whether Humira has a direct effect on weight, but there are several reasons you may gain weight on Humira.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn many cases, what we\u2019re actually seeing is a reflection of improved disease control,\u201d Dr. Ott says. \u201cChronic inflammation suppresses appetite and alters metabolism, so when we treat that inflammation effectively, the body can normalize. People feel better, they eat more, [and] they absorb nutrients more efficiently.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, weight fluctuations are also deeply tied to lifestyle factors. Dr. Ajao points out that if Humira is keeping symptoms under control, you might start socializing more often, which could involve eating more. Conversely, feeling better might allow for more regular exercise, which could lead to weight <\/span>loss<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other potential reasons for weight changes on Humira include:<\/span><\/p>\n