The majority of clinical investigations have found that aripiprazole does not induce significant weight gain. But keep in mind that the majority of these studies were conducted on adults. It is widely known that as a side effect of atypical antipsychotics, children and adolescents are more prone to weight gain. So for any individual patient, it is important to assess body mass index (BMI) before starting treatment and monitor regularly during therapy. For most people, eating too much food leads to weight gain. For some people, though, their body is less able to process fat and sugar after a certain point in life. These people may experience weight loss even with an increase in their daily calorie intake. Age plays a role here too - older individuals tend to lose muscle mass which increases its density while fat tissue decreases its density so there's no change overall. Younger individuals may see weight gain with increased calories from foods and beverages with high fructose content such as fruit juice, candy, and soda. Abilify can lead to weight gain in patients who are already obese or overweight. Patients should be advised about the potential for weight gain when taking Abilify. Also, diet and exercise should be used to manage weight prior to taking Abilify and while on the drug. Patients who take Abilify will likely want to control their appetite to avoid weight gain.