Relationships between food-related behaviors, obesity, and medication use in individuals with Smith-Magenis syndrome.
In Smith-Magenis syndrome, boys and people on antidepressants show the strongest food-seeking and obesity risk.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Gandhi et al. (2022) sent a one-time survey to caregivers of 49 people with Smith-Magenis syndrome.
They asked about eating habits, weight, and medicines.
The team wanted to see if food-seeking, obesity, and certain drugs travel together.
What they found
Boys with SMS showed more hyperphagia and other problem eating than girls.
People on antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds also had stronger food-seeking and satiety issues.
Those same groups were more likely to be overweight or obese.
How this fits with other research
Raspa et al. (2010) saw a similar sex split in fragile X: males there also carry the extra obesity risk.
Köse et al. (2021) found that any child with ASD on psychotropics was more likely to be heavy, matching the SMS drug signal.
Hamama et al. (2021) looked at emotional eating in autism and saw girls out-eat boys, the reverse pattern from SMS.
The studies together say: check both diagnosis and sex when you weigh medication choices.
Why it matters
If you serve a client with SMS, weigh boys and anyone starting antidepressants more often.
Share the data with prescribers so they can pick lower-weight-gain options or add diet plans early.
A five-minute diet and med review at intake can spare years of later health problems.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that includes obesity and food-seeking/satiety-related behaviors. AIMS: This study examined associations between food-related/hyperphagic behaviors, weight, and medication use in individuals with SMS. METHODS/PROCEDURES: Caregivers of individuals with SMS in the Parents and Researchers Interested in SMS (PRISMS) Patient Registry completed a demographic/medication questionnaire, the Hyperphagia Questionnaire for Clinical Trials, and the Food Related Problems Questionnaire. OUTCOMES/RESULTS: Among 49 participants (Mage = 16.41 ± 12.73 years, range = 4-69 years, 55% girls/women), individuals with SMS with overweight/obesity (n = 22) had worse overall food-related problems including greater impaired satiety (p < 0.05), maladaptive eating behaviors (p < 0.05), inappropriate response (p < 0.01), and hyperphagia (p < 0.01) compared to individuals of normal/underweight (n = 27). Those taking anti-depressants/anxiolytics (n = 16) had greater maladaptive eating behaviors (p < 0.05), hyperphagic behaviors (p < 0.05), and hyperphagic severity (p < 0.05) than those not taking anti-depressants/anxiolytics (n = 33). Boys/men with SMS had greater maladaptive eating behaviors (p < 0.05), inappropriate response (p < 0.05), and hyperphagic drive (p < 0.01) than girls/women with SMS. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Maladaptive food-related behaviors were higher in individuals with SMS with overweight/obesity, taking anti-depressants/anxiolytics, or who were male. Medications in this population should be chosen with weight-related side effects in mind.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2022 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104257