Newer antipsychotic drugs and obesity in children and adolescents. How should we assess drug-associated weight gain?
OBJECTIVE
Antipsychotic drugs may contribute to weight gain in children and adolescents.


METHODS
We used Medline's PubMed in the pediatric age using key words 'weight gain' and 'obesity', for each newer antipsychotic drug.


RESULTS
We found 21 articles linking weight gain and obesity with newer antipsychotic drugs among youths. Risperidone was the most commonly cited agent. Weight gain from olanzapine was the largest among the more commonly prescribed newer agents. All studies reported absolute weight gain. Only a few studies used the better measure of body mass index (BMI). None incorporated growth charts to allow for changes in weight and height over time because of growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Weight gain may be a major problem when prescribing newer antipsychotic drugs in the pediatric population. Risperidone is associated with less weight gain than olanzapine. Published reports and studies have not utilized state-of-the-art techniques using BMI with readily available growth charts.
Vieweg
W V R
WV
Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23238-5414, USA. wieweg@vcu.edu
Sood
A B
AB
Pandurangi
A
A
Silverman
J J
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009765:Obesity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000077152:Olanzapine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D018967:Risperidone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine