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Overweight teens at increased risk for weight gain while using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
Sharon A Mangan1, Pamela G Larsen, Suzanne Hudson
1Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. mangans@mail.ecu.edu
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
|June 12, 2002
Summary
Adolescent females using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) experienced greater weight gain than those using oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Overweight adolescents may gain more weight on DMPA.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Adolescent Medicine
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a widely used contraceptive in adolescents.
- Weight gain is a reported side effect of DMPA, but factors influencing this are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI), race, and age with weight gain in adolescent females using DMPA.
- To compare weight changes between DMPA users and oral contraceptive pill (OCP) users.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of adolescent females aged 12-19 at rural and university clinics.
- Analysis included 239 participants, comparing 117 DMPA users with 122 OCP users over one year.
- Weight change and BMI change at one year were the primary outcome measures.
Main Results:
- DMPA users gained an average of 8.9 lbs, significantly more than OCP users (4.79 lbs, P =.002).
- BMI increase was greater in the DMPA group (1.51) compared to the OCP group (0.75, P =.001).
- Initial BMI was significantly associated with weight gain after adjusting for covariates (P =.009).
Conclusions:
- Adolescent females using DMPA experience significantly more weight gain within the first year compared to OCP users.
- Overweight adolescents initiating DMPA may be at higher risk for substantial weight gain.