Predicting Weight Gain in Children Using Second Generation Anti-Psychotic Medication

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy has shed light on predicting weight gain in children using second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication. The study, published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, explored the development and predictors of clinically significant weight gain (CSWG) among pediatric patients on SGAs.

The research, led by graduate researcher Ning Lyu under the supervision of Hua Chen, examined the records of over 16,000 pediatric patients aged 5-19 from 2016 to 2021. Lyu identified four distinctive weight-gain trajectories, including Rapid, Gradual, Transit, and None. Factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and baseline body mass index scores were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing rapid or gradual CSWG.

Lyu emphasized the potential for preventing clinically significant weight gain by considering patient characteristics at the initiation of SGA treatment. "There may be different trajectories of weight gain... Children and adolescents in such differing trajectories may be different clinically...” noted Lyu, stressing the importance of tailored responses to address CSWG based on individual characteristics.

Hua Chen, professor and assistant department chair at the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, highlighted the significance of personalized monitoring and timely intervention strategies for individuals at risk of persistent CSWG in real-world practice. The study underscores the need for clinicians to consider demographic, clinical, and provider characteristics when prescribing SGAs to pediatric patients.