Overweight Teens at Increased Risk for Weight Gain While Using Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

Abstract

Study Objective: To determine if factors such as body mass index (BMI), race, and age are associated with weight gain in adolescents receiving depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). Design/Setting: Retrospective chart review at three rural health department family planning clinics and a university-based adolescent clinic in rural eastern North Carolina. Participants: Adolescent females, aged 12–19, who used either oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) or DMPA consistently for the first year of use. Main Outcome Measure: Weight change at one year. Results: A total of 239 adolescent females were included in the analysis; 117 were DMPA users and 122 were OCP users. The mean weight gain for the DMPA group was 8.9 lbs. compared with 4.79 lbs. in the OCP group (P = .002). The change in BMI from baseline was greater among the DMPA group (1.51 ± 1.94) than the OCP group (.75 ± 1.65), P = .001. After adjusting for age, race, and contraceptive method, initial BMI was associated with weight gain (P = .009). Conclusions: Adolescent females using DMPA gained significantly more weight over one year than those girls using OCPs. Adolescent females who are overweight at the initiation of DMPA may be more likely to have significant weight gain during the first year of use.