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

Abstract

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.

Pharmacotherapy of obesity: an update on the available medications and drugs under investigation

“… 10 In fact, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017–2018) showed that 20% of US adults are on weight inducing medications. 154 …”

Socioeconomic status and use of obesogenic and anti-obesity medications in the United States: A population-based study

“…All medications were converted to a standard generic drug name. Obesogenic medications were identified from current Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines, further limited to those that has potential non-obesogenic alternatives, 11 , 12 , 22 and included certain anticonvulsants, antidepressants/antianxiety drugs, antipsychotics, beta-blockers, corticosteroids, and antidiabetic medications (see detailed obesogenic medication list and potential non-obesogenic alternatives in Supplemental Table 1 ).…”

“…A priori , we chose to evaluate comorbidities that were the most common indications for obesogenic medication use. 12 Hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, stroke, or heart failure), and arthritis were defined as a self-reported physician diagnosis of the conditions. The presence of depressive symptoms was defined as having five or more symptoms from the Patient Health Questionnaire, a nine-item instrument (PHQ-9) to screen depression.…”

“…Recently, Hales et al showed that use of obesogenic medications was common and increasing over time in the US. 12 …”

Validating cuffless continuous blood pressure monitoring devices

“…This is problematic, as upwards of 10% of U.S. adults take beta-blockers. 19 This is also relevant for states where HR and BP may uncouple to varying degrees (eg, sleep) or conditions of irregular HR (eg, atrial fibrillation, common among adults with hypertension).…”