Haas L, et al. - In this present study, the experts wished to figure out whether children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) could experience excess weight gain. They illustrated that pediatric patients with IBD might experience excess weight gain when treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents. Hence, it was essential to consider this side effect.

Methods

• The centralized diagnostic index identified pediatric IBD patients evaluated at the institution who received anti-TNF therapy for at least 1 year between August 1998 and December 2013. 
• At time of anti-TNF initiation and annually, anthropometric data were gathered.
•  Excess weight gain was defined as ΔBMI SDS (standard deviation score) where patients were (1) reclassified from “normal” to “overweight/obese,” (2) “overweight” to “obese,” or (2) a final BMI SDS >0 and ΔSDS >0.5.

Results

• 268 children received anti-TNF therapy.
•  Out of them, 69 had sufficient follow-up for a median of 29.3 months.
• 12.8 years was the median age at first anti-TNF dose.
• At baseline, mean weight SDS was -0.7 (SD 1.4), while mean BMI SDS was -0.6 (1.3).
• Using baseline BMI SDS, 11.6% were overweight/obese.
• The mean ΔBMI SDS was 0.50, at last follow-up (LFU) (p < 0.0001). 
• However, 10 (17%) patients had excess weight gain at LFU.
• Three patients were reclassified from “normal” to “obese,” and 7 had a final BMI SDS >0 and ΔSDS >0.5.