Did Cortisone Really Cause Anna Gunn’s Drastic Weight Loss?
I knew I wasn’t the only one who thought something was up with Anna Gunn’s drastic weight loss.
Emmy viewers were shocked Sunday night to see the Best Supporting Actress winner looking extremely thin on the red carpet after a noticeable weight gain during season 4 of Breaking Bad.
In response to fans concern, Gunn finally addressed the issue to People Magazine explaining that her weight gain was caused by a medicine she was taking for some mystery illness.
“I was actually ill while I was filming the show and it affected my weight,” said Gunn. “They gave me cortisone and I puffed up and gained weight. Now I’m better, thank God.”
She went on to say that she dropped the weight by doing Pilates and chasing around her two young children.
I immediately wondered, can a medication really effect someone’s weight that much? And how does that explain the fact that she’s even thinner than she was pre-weight gain?
I turned to my friend Dr. Joshua Goldman, a resident physician at UCLA and Editor-in-chief of House Call, MD, for answers.
Dr. Goldman told me that cortisone is a slang term for a group of medications called corticosteriods which are used in two ways: in medical emergencies and for the long-term treatment of disease management.
In the first case, they might be used if someone was having an asthma attack or an allergic reaction. In the latter, they’re used to treat autoimmune diseases like lupus or arthritis.
As it turns out, the long-term use of these medications is commonly associated with weight gain. More specifically, it can produce “Cushingoid symptoms,” i.e. rapid weight gain in the face, abdomen, and back of the neck. Yikes!
I did a little more research and found out that Ashley Judd actually said she suffered from similar symptoms in 2012 after using steroids to treat a serious sinus infection.
So it appears Anna Gunn’s explanation is totally legit. But it doesn’t really explain her extreme weight loss.
Dr. Goldman told me that once a person discontinues use of a steroid, they should be able to return to their starting weight in six months to a year.
“People who gain weight on steroids have it slightly easier than the average person in terms of losing weight after stopping the medication because their body will trend towards its previous weight now that you’ve removed the weight-gaining stimulus.”
Note, he didn’t say they lose more weight.
Here’s a picture of Anna in 2008, prior to the weight gain, looking happy and healthy.
Photo Credit: Getty
It’s clear she’s much smaller now than she was before.
Whatever is or was going on with Gunn though, I just hope she’s doing ok. I’ve loved watching her on Breaking Bad over the years and hope to continue to watch her star rise in whatever project she chooses next.
Thanks to Dr. Goldman for his help with the research in this article!
Weigh In: What are your thoughts on this? Does it bother you when you see actresses looking so thin? Or do you think people need to mind their own business?
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Dr. J says:
I was going to say the same thing as Dr. G! Steroids are powerful hormones and need to be handled with care. When they were first discovered it seemed they were are wonder drug. That is before they could become the cure that was worse than the disease!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
My friend is currently on steroids for her headaches and I always joke with her that she is going to puff up into a sweaty, gross, body building like man! BAH HA HA! Clearly that’s NOT true, however she may sprout some facial hairs ;)
Iman MJ says:
As a child I suffered from astma and was put on cortisone and even though the rest of my siblings were slender and healthy I seemed to be pudgier and more prone to weight gane and as the years went by and I kept on cortisone I just balooned out, eventually I got over my astma and stopped taking cortisone and weight loss was much easier; I swear it makes you puff up and gain weight, there is definitely something wrong with that drug
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Dr. Waters says:
Cortisone always causes weight GAIN, moron.
Jolly says:
I’ve been on steroids because of my headaches and the surgery that was done. I am struggling to lose weight and would like advise. I know dieting and excercise is the best. I’m also a vegan, I feel Like theres nothing I can do at this point I hate my body.
Whitney English says:
Hi Jolly,
I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m not a licensed medical professional so I probably don’t have the best advice for what you can do but a healthy diet and exercising should be a good start. I would consult a registered dietician who can provide you with a good meal plan to get you back on track that also fits into your vegan diet.
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Cathy Mac says:
If/when you have kids, you will understand – you dont see many fat mothers of young children. Thats because its a very busy, active job.
The ‘mystery’ illness is none of our business. That said, steroids can add considerable weight in as short a time as five days. Add the additional weight from the water retention and you’re looking at 2-3 dress sizes larger.
Hats off to Skylar for pushing through and carrying it off so eloquently! Very tough feat: steroids, young children, and a demanding career – I would have quit and crawled back in bed.
AhyaKnow says:
There’s weight gain, weight loss, and then there is drug use.
Be the judge of quickness. Loose skin? Days inside?
Just sad what cash can do to you. She had a phenomenal roll, aside from the nations (majority anyway) support. Cliche… What a waste
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Nour says:
I think even if she was taking this medication there is something else at play. The weight gain was only slight but her change in appearance was very noticeable with the .. “weight gain” and after the drastic weight loss; she still looked different from the first!