Effect of Obesogenic Medications on Weight-Loss Outcomes in a Behavioral Weight-Management Program

This study aimed to evaluate a possible association between the use of obesogenic medications and inadequate weight loss in a behavioral weight-management program.

This is a case-control, single-center study of 666 adult patients within a Veterans Health Administration health system who participated in the MOVE! behavioral weight-loss program. The cohort was divided into responders (n = 150), patients who achieved ≥ 5% total weight loss by the end of the MOVE! program, and nonresponders (n = 516), those who achieved < 5% total weight loss. We reviewed each patient's medical records for exposure to obesogenic medication during the time of treatment.

Approximately 62% (n = 411) of patients entering MOVE! had a prescription for obesogenic medications. Obesogenic medication use was associated with worse weight-loss outcomes, and participants were 37% less likely to achieve a clinically meaningful (≥ 5% total weight loss) outcome at the end of the MOVE! program (odds ratio, 0.633; 95% CI: 0.427-0.937; adjusted P = 0.022). Patients who received three or more medications (n = 72) had the greatest difficulty achieving 5% weight loss compared with the control group (odds ratio, 0.265; 95% CI: 0.108-0.646; adjusted P = 0.003).

The use of provider-prescribed obesogenic medications was associated with worse weight-loss outcomes in a behavioral weight-loss program. Closer scrutiny of patient medications is necessary to help improve outcomes of weight-loss treatments.