Anti-Obesity Drugs Produce Only Minimal Weight Loss
According to new research, anti-obesity drugs can only be expected to produce limited results for the patients taking them. Their users shed weight at only a "modest" rate, while some continue to be substantially overweight or obese.
The fact that drugs such as orlistat generated weight losses of under five kilograms means, according to guidelines, their use cannot be justified. The research - which was published in the British Medical Journal - has been commented on by experts, who say it highlights how such drugs, therefore, cannot take the place of living a healthy life.
Eating more economically and taking more exercise are key to this, they add.
One Billion-Plus People Overweight or Obese
The obesity treatment market is a substantial one - fuelled by the one billion-plus people around the world who are considered either obese or overweight.
The new research was carried out by a Canadian team based at the University of Alberta, and led by Professor Raj Padwal. It indicated that, in the majority of instances, anti-obesity drugs generated little in the way of results.
Their study took in the results of 30 trials, in which 20,000 patients participated. They were prescribed either orlistat, rimonabant or sibutramine over a 12-month period - some for longer.
The average weight of the trials' participants - all of whom were considered to be obese - was 100 kilograms.
Individually assessed, orlistat achieved an average weight loss of 2.9 kilograms. For rimonabant and sibutramine, the reductions achieved were 4.7 kilograms and 4.2 kilograms respectively.
Weight Loss Drugs Had Some Effectiveness, but Health Benefits Unclear
One factor that emerged was that patients prescribed the weight loss drugs had a greater chance of losing between 5-10 per cent of their weight when compared to those taking a placebo. However, it could not be established definitively whether such weight loss could be associated with survival and health benefits or not.
All of the drugs assessed decreased the level of some kinds of cholesterol. However, side effects were also noted, as were the number of patients who failed to take their particular drug for the full allocated period.
The National Obesity Forum's chairman, Dr Colin Waine, stated: "The first choice has to be a healthier lifestyle, but medication use can be justified because obesity is a serious medical condition."
He added: "The purpose is not just to achieve weight loss but to reduce health risk factors. All three drugs can have beneficial effects on those."
However, the University of Bristol's Professor of Medicine, Professor Gareth Williams, highlighted the potential impact on society if, as in the US, anti-obesity drugs could be purchased over the counter.
"Selling anti-obesity drugs over the counter will perpetuate the myth that obesity can be fixed simply by popping a pill and could further undermine the efforts to promote healthy living, which is the only long term escape from obesity", he stressed.
"Globally, obesity is spiralling out of control and will only be reined in by public health campaigns that somehow persuade people to eat less and exercise more."
Source - Pharmaceutical International's Health Reporter
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