Does Collagen Make You Gain Weight?

Collagen supplements are readily available pretty much anywhere. They have lots of benefits. No wonder many people love to take them in! However, apart from the benefits you get out of collagen, you might be wondering what other effects it has on the body. 

Does collagen make you gain weight?

Collagen supplements could make you gain weight but not in a bad manner, and not all people do. Some even lose weight because of it. Why that happens and the effect of collagen will further be explained below.

But first, let’s talk about what collagen is and why it’s a good idea to take it.

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What Are Collagen Supplements?

Collagen is a kind of protein that is naturally found in the body. It has many different uses in the body. In the beauty industry, it is highly advised for those who want to improve their skin. It is commonly found in creams like the ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream  we reviewed here.

Devices such as the Tria Smooth Beauty Laser  are designed to lightly damage the skin in order to trick the body into producing collagen.

Collagen is naturally produced in the body. However, as we age, collagen production slows. That’s why we turn to supplements and beauty techniques like microneedling, eye creams, etc.

Collagen supplements come in various forms. Some come in powder , some in liquid or capules .

There are some that are made of pure collagen while there are others that are combined with other nutrients to help better achieve your purpose. 

There are many reasons people might take collagen supplements. Some might use it to help gain muscle mass. With collagen supplements plus training and workouts, bodybuilders can more efficiently produce lean muscle mass. 

More common today are women using collagen to help improve their skin elasticity. Although there are topical treatments that contain collagen, taking collagen supplements can also help improve the appearance of the skin. 

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Healthy Or Unhealthy Weight Gain

Gaining weight, more often than not, has a negative connotation. That’s because most of us are always aiming to lose weight. However, weight gain isn’t always bad or unhealthy. Many argue that you shouldn’t just base your health on your weight because there are many factors that can affect your weight. 

Weight gain can either be healthy or unhealthy. Eating junk food or foods that are not nutrient-dense like those in some fast-food restaurants can result in unhealthy weight gain.

Gaining muscle weight from resistance training is almost certainly a good thing.

On the other hand, weight gain can still be healthy. For people who are underweight, weight gain is good, especially if it’s muscle.

Aside from that, there are also other causes of healthy weight gain. So if you gain weight from using collagen supplements, it shouldn’t matter as long as it is a healthy weight gain. 

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Does Collagen Make You Gain Weight?

Let’s go back to our main question about collagen making you gain weight. There is a chance for collagen to make you gain weight. However, there is also a chance for you to lose weight with the use of collagen supplements!

Collagen For Gaining Weight

As we’ve said, collagen has various effects on the body. First of all, it can help you build muscle. Lean muscle tends to be denser than fat. That’s why even if you seem to be gaining weight, you might not be getting fatter. You could just have firmer muscles.

However, that doesn’t mean that your muscles will miraculously be built by taking collagen. You still have to do your part in workouts so your muscles build up.

Another way where collagen could seem to help you gain weight is when it helps you with your bone density. Did you know that as you age, your bone density also decreases? This could also lead to getting lighter.

However, if your bone density is restored, you might observe weight gain. 

Collagen For Losing Weight

On the other hand, collagen could also be used to help you lose weight.

How?

Well, you could take collagen to prevent hunger pangs. As a protein, collagen has a satiating effect. This can help you feel full for longer periods of time. That means you won’t be hungry and won’t be tempted to keep on eating.

In the long run, that could help you lose weight. 

If you really want to lose weight while using collagen, there are other things that you should also do. Collagen should just be a part of your weight loss journey. You should also take a closer look at what you are eating.

With collagen helping you not to get hungry all the time, choosing to eat healthier food when you eat could greatly help you lose weight. 

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Final Thoughts

Collagen is an important protein in the body and it has many functions, especially for the skin. However, with age, production can decrease. Collagen supplements  are a great solution for that.

Apart from helping you build muscles, improve bone density, and improve the appearance of your skin, it also has some effects on your weight. 

The good thing about collagen is that you can use it to either help you gain or lose weight. It can make you gain weight when you use it to help your body build more muscles, which can be heavier. However, that weight gain is still considered healthy so you shouldn’t really worry about it at all. 

On the other hand, you can also use collagen to help you with weight loss. It has properties that can help you stay full for longer, thus decreasing your cravings for food.

The use of collagen doesn’t simply make you gain or lose weight. What you do while using the supplement matters a great deal.