Use of medications associated with weight change among participants in the All of Us research programme.
Erik AlmazanJessica L SchwartzKimberly A GudzunePublished in: Clinical obesity (2023)
Our objective was to describe the use of medications associated with weight change among US adults with overweight/obesity, including anti-obesity medications (AOMs), weight-loss-promoting and weight-gain-promoting medications. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the nationwide All of Us Research Programme. We included adults with measured body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27 kg/m 2 enrolled between 2018 and 2022 across the United States. We used linked electronic health record data to determine medication use ±12 months of BMI measure. Our 132 057 participants had mean age 54 years and mean BMI 34 kg/m 2 ; 60% of participants were women, 62% White, and 32% Black. Only 1% used any AOM, and 14% used at least one weight-loss-promoting medication. We found that 36% used at least one weight-gain-promoting medication, and approximately 20% used multiple weight-gain-promoting medications. While AOMs are underutilized by participants with overweight/obesity, weight-gain-promoting medication use is common. Our results raise concern about potential iatrogenic weight gain from medications. Future research is needed to estimate the long-term effect of weight-gain-promoting medications on weight status and determine whether weight-loss benefits occur with their discontinuation. Clinician education on AOMs and weight-loss-promoting medications may be needed to increase their use.
Keyphrases
- weight gain
- weight loss
- body mass index
- birth weight
- bariatric surgery
- roux en y gastric bypass
- electronic health record
- gastric bypass
- healthcare
- glycemic control
- study protocol
- machine learning
- emergency department
- adverse drug
- metabolic syndrome
- insulin resistance
- randomized controlled trial
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- physical activity
- obese patients
- pregnancy outcomes