Autism Therapy: obesity

Risperidone therapy may result in weight gain and metabolism changes in typical children and adolescents and those with pervasive developmental disorder.

This study measured weight and body mass index (BMI) for 99 children and adolescents (7-17 years old). Metabolism tests (measures of how the body uses food and energy) were also performed. The patients had been taking risperidone for nearly 3 years. Only some of the patients had pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). In the total group of patients, 19% were overweight and 15% were obese. The authors compared metabolism test results of the overweight/obese patients with the lean patients. The overweight/obese patients had more abnormal metabolism tests than the lean patients. For example, the overweight/obese patients had higher triglycerides (types of fatty acids) and higher insulin concentrations than the lean patients. However, few of the patients had metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of metabolism changes linked to higher risk of heart disease.