Nearly A Quarter Of Americans Taking Fat-inducing Prescription Medication

“Nearly a quarter of American adults are on a prescription drug that often produces obesity as a side effect, and use of such obesogenic drugs was significantly higher among patients who already are obese,” investigators concluded after examining “national U.S. data collected during 2013-2016.” The findings were presented at Obesity Week. The article added, “The Endocrine Society, the STOP Obesity Alliance, and other medical societies have recommended that clinicians try to minimize use of obesogenic drugs and focus on prescribing agents that are weight neutral or that trigger weight loss when those options are available and appropriate.” In addition, “according to practice guidelines published by the Endocrine Society, all drugs in the classes of glucocorticoids, beta-blockers, and antihistamines are obesogenic, as well as selected agents in the classes of antidepressant drugs, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antidiabetics, and contraceptives that are progestin only.” https://www.mdedge.com/endocrinology/article/214991/obesity/nearly-25-us-adults-take-obesogenic-prescription-drug