the potential for iatrogenic weight gain is more common than is generally appreciated
Drug-induced obesity may result from therapeutic use of:
corticosteroids
have potent weight-promoting actions, particularly at higher doses
the characteristic alteration of body composition is accompanied by insulin resistance
psychotropic drugs
many psychotropic drugs are associated with weight gain - has more recently been highlighted as a concern with atypical antipsychotics such as olanzapine and clozapine
risks of excessive weight gain and the development of the metabolic syndrome call for careful monitoring
anti-retroviral agents
nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, e.g stavudine and zidovudine promote central adiposity, as well as subcutaneous lipoatrophy
thiazolidinediones
agonists for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma e.g. pioglitazone
reduce insulin resistance and can improve a range of cardiovascular risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes
weight gain averaging 3-4 kg is common during the first few months of thiazolidinedione therapy, tending to stabilise thereafter (1)
Reference:
British Heart Foundation (November 2004). Factfile - the causes of obesity.
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