Body weight gain (BWG)

Body weight gain is a complex physiological process and clinical phenotype characterized by an increase in total body mass, typically through the accumulation of adipose tissue, muscle, or fluid. In drug discovery and pharmacology, it is classified as a therapeutic endpoint or a side effect rather than a discrete molecular target like a protein or receptor (Müller et al., 2022; PubMed: 35133346). The regulation of body weight is governed by an intricate network of central and peripheral signals, including the leptin-melanocortin system in the hypothalamus and various metabolic hormones (Herzog et al., 2021; Garvan Institute). Many drugs interact with the biological pathways that result in weight gain; for instance, antipsychotics such as olanzapine and clozapine often cause significant weight gain through their interaction with histaminergic and serotonergic receptors (Martens et al., 2023). Conversely, newer therapies like GLP-1 receptor agonists are utilized to counteract weight gain by enhancing satiety and metabolic efficiency. Because "Body weight gain" refers to a biological state or phenotypic result of multiple molecular interactions, it is not considered a valid canonical therapeutic target.

Other names

Weight increaseBody mass increaseAdiposity gainWeight gainResidual body weight gainRADG

Body weight gain is not a molecular target but a physiological outcome. Drugs modulate this process by acting on specific receptors like the Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), Histamine H1 receptor, or Serotonin 5-HT2C receptor to either stimulate appetite and storage (agonism/antagonism depending on the system) or induce satiety and energy expenditure.