A physician may recommend a body composition assessment (BCA) waiver due to the prescription of a medication that is known to cause what action?

A physician may recommend a body composition assessment waiver due to the prescription of a medication that is known to cause weight gain. Certain medications, such as corticosteroids, antidepressants, and some antiepileptic drugs, can lead to an increase in body weight as a side effect. This weight gain may result from factors like changes in metabolism, increased appetite, or fluid retention associated with these medications. When weight gain is a known side effect, it can significantly affect the body composition assessment results, which are designed to evaluate health and fitness based on weight and fat percentage. Therefore, a waiver may be warranted to account for these medication-induced changes, allowing for a more accurate understanding of an individual’s health status.