Drug-induced obesity

This code signifies obesity that is directly attributable to the use of a medication. It describes a condition where a patient's body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater, and a specific drug is identified as the causative agent for the weight gain. This is distinct from obesity due to dietary or metabolic factors.

Apply this code when documentation clearly links a patient's obesity to a prescribed or illicit drug. This typically occurs when a physician explicitly states "drug-induced obesity" or identifies a specific medication as the etiology of the patient's significant weight gain. Supporting documentation should include the drug name and a BMI indicating obesity.

• Always sequence the drug-induced obesity code first if it is the primary reason for the encounter.
• Do not use this code for obesity due to lifestyle choices or underlying metabolic disorders; those have their own specific codes.
• Ensure the medical record clearly identifies the specific drug causing the obesity for accurate coding.