Visceral and subcutaneous fat in patients treated with olanzapine: a case series

We hypothesized that olanzapine may contribute to visceral adiposity, a core symptom of metabolic syndrome.

Using computed tomography, we examined the effect of olanzapine on visceral and subcutaneous fat distribution, body mass index, fasting glucose, and lipids in an unselected population of 14 schizophrenic patients.

We found a 6-week olanzapine treatment to be related to increased body mass index and proportion of total fat at the level of the fourth vertebral body.

On the basis of these findings, we conclude that weight gain after a 6-week olanzapine treatment is partly attributable to increased visceral fat and may thus contribute to metabolic syndrome.