TY - JOUR
T1 - Corticosteroid Use and Long-Term Changes in Weight and Waist Circumference
T2 - The Lifelines Cohort Study
AU - Mohseni, Mostafa
AU - Van Der Valk, Eline S.
AU - Van Der Hurk, Maartje J.B.
AU - Savas, Mesut
AU - Boon, Mariëtte R.
AU - Van Rossum, Elisabeth F.C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.
PY - 2025/12
Y1 - 2025/12
N2 - Context:The use of corticosteroids (CS) has been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in cross-sectional studies. However, longitudinal data are scarce, particularly for locally administered forms. Design:We analyzed weight and waist circumference changes in 81 361 Lifelines Cohort Study participants (mean age 46.3 years, mean BMI 26.0 kg/m2, 41% male, mean follow-up 3.9 years) via linear regression. Sensitivity analyses included stratification by sex and BMI. Short-term weight changes post-start were assessed in a subset using linear mixed-effect models. Results: We found 23.8% CS users during the study period. Individuals reporting any new use of CS gained significantly more weight compared to nonusers at follow-up (β. 034 kg/year, P =. 021), particularly among those initiating local CS use (β. 037 kg/year, P =. 017). Use of new systemic CS was associated with increased WC (β. 200 cm/year, P <. 001). Discontinuation of CS led to decreased WC (β -.078 cm/year, P =. 028). These effects were particularly observed in female participants and individuals with BMI ≥25 kg/m2, but not in male participants and those with BMI < 25 kg/m2. Short-term weight-inducing effects of CS were not observed in the weeks after initiation of CS use. Conclusion:This study demonstrates that CS use, including locally administered forms, is associated with long-term increases in weight and WC, notably in female individuals and those with overweight or obesity. Discontinuing CS was linked to reductions in WC. These findings underscore the need to carefully assess chronic systemic and local CS use, as discontinuation could benefit obesity-related outcomes in certain patients.
AB - Context:The use of corticosteroids (CS) has been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in cross-sectional studies. However, longitudinal data are scarce, particularly for locally administered forms. Design:We analyzed weight and waist circumference changes in 81 361 Lifelines Cohort Study participants (mean age 46.3 years, mean BMI 26.0 kg/m2, 41% male, mean follow-up 3.9 years) via linear regression. Sensitivity analyses included stratification by sex and BMI. Short-term weight changes post-start were assessed in a subset using linear mixed-effect models. Results: We found 23.8% CS users during the study period. Individuals reporting any new use of CS gained significantly more weight compared to nonusers at follow-up (β. 034 kg/year, P =. 021), particularly among those initiating local CS use (β. 037 kg/year, P =. 017). Use of new systemic CS was associated with increased WC (β. 200 cm/year, P <. 001). Discontinuation of CS led to decreased WC (β -.078 cm/year, P =. 028). These effects were particularly observed in female participants and individuals with BMI ≥25 kg/m2, but not in male participants and those with BMI < 25 kg/m2. Short-term weight-inducing effects of CS were not observed in the weeks after initiation of CS use. Conclusion:This study demonstrates that CS use, including locally administered forms, is associated with long-term increases in weight and WC, notably in female individuals and those with overweight or obesity. Discontinuing CS was linked to reductions in WC. These findings underscore the need to carefully assess chronic systemic and local CS use, as discontinuation could benefit obesity-related outcomes in certain patients.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105021923925
U2 - 10.1210/clinem/dgaf166
DO - 10.1210/clinem/dgaf166
M3 - Article
C2 - 40308158
AN - SCOPUS:105021923925
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 110
SP - e3989-e3997
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 12
ER -
