Use of prescription medications associated with weight gain among US adults, 1999–2018: A nationally representative survey
CDC STACKS serves as an archival repository of CDC-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other public health information authored or co-authored by CDC or funded partners. As a repository, CDC STACKS retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.
i

Use of prescription medications associated with weight gain among US adults, 1999–2018: A nationally representative survey



English

Details:

  • Alternative Title:
    Obesity (Silver Spring)
  • Personal Author:
  • Description:
    Objective:

    This study aimed to evaluate trends in the use of obesogenic medications among adults.

    Methods:

    Cross-sectional data on adults aged ≥20 years are from the 1999 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 52,340). Obesogenic medications were defined according to the 2015 Endocrine Society guidelines on the pharmacological management of obesity. Weight status was categorized according to BMI. Trends in prior 30-day use were evaluated.

    Results:

    In NHANES 2017–2018, 20.3% of US adults used an obesogenic medication. Beta-blockers (9.8%) and antidiabetics (5.7%) were the most common; antipsychotics (1.0%) were the least common. Most common indications were disorders of glucose metabolism, hypertension, neuralgia or neuritis, heart disease, and musculoskeletal pain and/or inflammation. From 1999 to 2018, the proportional use of obesogenic medications increased for anticonvulsants (34.4% to 55.0%) but decreased for antidepressants (32.1% to 18.8%), antidiabetics (82.9% to 52.5%), and beta-blockers (83.9% to 80.7%). The proportional use of obesogenic medications was not associated with weight status, except for antipsychotics.

    Conclusions:

    Use of obesogenic medications was common. Differences in the proportional use of obesogenic medication may reflect changing availability of obesogenic versus nonobesogenic medications over time. The decision to prescribe a nonobesogenic alternative, if one exists, is guided by weighing the risks and benefits of available treatments.

  • Subjects:
  • Source:
  • Pubmed ID:
    34907655
  • Pubmed Central ID:
    PMC8842491
  • Document Type:
  • Funding:
  • Volume:
    30
  • Issue:
    1
  • Collection(s):
  • Main Document Checksum:
  • Download URL:
  • File Type:
    Filetype[PDF-619.26 KB]

You May Also Like

Checkout today's featured content at stacks.cdc.gov