The use of obesogenic medications is a factor in a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity among children with complex medical conditions (CMC), researchers report. While some conditions contribute to increased weight, more than 90% of CMC cases of increased body mass index did not involve an obesogenic condition. CMC was defined as 1 or more serious chronic conditions in 1 or more systems.
In a retrospective cohort of 41,905 children ages 2 to 18 years at an academic medical center in 2019, factors involved in a primary outcome of overweight or obesity (body mass index of ≥85% for age and sex) were identified: “Of the children in the cohort, 29.5% were CMC. Overweight or obesity prevalence was higher among CMC than non-CMC (31.9% vs 18.4%, P ≤.001, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20–1.35). Among CMC, the risk for overweight or obesity was higher among children with metabolic conditions (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.88–2.32), gastrointestinal conditions (aOR 1.23 95% CI 1.06–1.41), malignancies (aOR 1.21 95% CI 1.07–1.38), and Spanish-speaking parents (aOR 1.47 95% CI 1.30–1.67). Among overweight or obese CMC, 91.6% had no obesogenic conditions, and only 8.5% had been seen by a registered dietitian in the previous year.”