[4] Moon face is often associated with Cushing's syndrome[5][6] or steroid treatment (especially corticosteroids), which has led to it being known as Cushingoid facies.

Moon face is among the most frequently reported adverse events of systemic glucocorticoids, along with insomnia (58%), mood disturbances (50%), and hyperphagia (49%).

One study showed an increased risk in women, those younger than 50 years of age, and those with a high initial BMI.

[11] Later studies of the 88 patients showed that those who had lipodystrophy had a greater risk for metabolic syndrome characteristics such as increased blood pressure, higher plasma concentrations of fasting glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, along with lower HDL-cholesterol.

[12] Cessation of steroid therapy or treatment of the cause of Cushing's syndrome causes moon face to slowly decrease and eventually vanish.