Metabolic syndrome risk associated with atypical antipsychotics includes increases in which parameters?

• A. Weight, blood glucose, triglycerides, and insulin resistance
• B. Weight loss, glucose decrease
• C. WBC count increase
• D. Hemoglobin A1c decrease

Answer: (A)

Metabolic syndrome risk with atypical antipsychotics centers on metabolic changes driven by weight gain and impaired insulin signaling. The most consistent and clinically important increases are in body weight, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and insulin resistance. Weight gain from these medications promotes insulin resistance, which worsens glucose control and drives dyslipidemia, especially elevated triglycerides. Taken together, these changes raise the risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The other options describe either opposite directions (weight loss or glucose decrease) or non-metabolic markers (WBC count), which do not reflect the typical metabolic syndrome risk profile associated with these drugs.