Effects of low-dose oral contraceptives on body weight: results of a randomized study of up to 13 cycles of use.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of 2 oral contraceptives (OCs) on body weight.


METHODS
A randomized, parallel-group, multicenter study of 1,723 women taking an OC with norgestimate (NGM) 180/215/250 microg/ethinyl estradiol (EE) 25 microg vs. 1,171 women taking on OC with norethindrone acetate 1 mg/EE 20 microg for 6-13 cycles was performed. Body weight changes between baseline and cycle 6 and baseline and cycle 13 were analyzed. Analysis included not only changes in mean body weight but also the distribution of changes that were within 5% of baseline weight, 5-10% of baseline weight and > 10% of baseline weight. Only the 10% change was felt to be clinically significant.


RESULTS
The distribution of body weight changes did not statistically differ between the 2 OC groups for any parameter measured. The mean weight change after 6 months for the NGM/EE and norethindrone acetate/EE groups was +0.71 kg and +0.57 kg, respectively. At 13 cycles for the NGM/EE and norethindrone acetate/ EE groups, the mean body weight change was +0.93 kg and +0.62 kg, respectively. Only 0.3% of subjects in both OC groups experienced a 10% change in weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of OCs does not substantially affect body weight for most women.
Burkman
Ronald T
RT
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA 01199, USA. rtb@bhs.org
Fisher
Alan C
AC
LaGuardia
Katherine D
KD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009640:Norethindrone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D009644:Norgestrel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009644:Norgestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel; C017576:norgestimate; D009640:Norethindrone