People taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs have increased their intake of calories and fat since 2000, while nonusers have not, according to a recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine, subtitled “Gluttony in the time of statins.”
In 2000, statin users consumed about 10 percent fewer calories and 14 percent less fat per day than nonusers, on average. But by 2010 they had caught up with nonusers, whose intake did not increase during this decade, and statin users gained more weight.
Even though the average blood cholesterol levels of statin users improved markedly during this time, it’s still important for them to follow a heart-healthy diet and avoid weight gain. Statin use may give people a false sense of security and let them think that they can eat whatever they want.