Diabesity: are weight loss medications effective?

Abstract

Weight reduction has been shown to improve glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therapeutic options for these patients include promoting weight loss (non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment) and improving glycemic control, as well as treating common associated risk factors such as arterial hypertension and dyslipidemias. This article provides an overview of anti-obesity drugs used in the treatment of obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. The most widely investigated drugs, sibutramine and orlistat, result in modest, clinically worthwhile weight loss, with demonstrable improvements in many co-morbidities, among them, type 2 diabetes. Clinical trials with these anti-obesity medications in cohorts of obese diabetic patients have been reviewed as well as cathecolaminergic agents (diethylpropion [amfepramone], fenproporex, mazindol, ephedrine-caffeine combination), serotoninergic drugs (fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine, fluoxetine), and other drugs that have some action on weight loss (the antidiabetic agent metformin, anti-epileptic agents topiramate and zonisamide, and the antidepressive bupropion [amfebutamone]). These trials show variable benefits in terms of effects on glucose profiles.

• Authors: Alfredo Halpern, Marcio C Mancini
• Journal: Treatments in endocrinology (Treat Endocrinol) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 65-74 ( 2005) ISSN: 1175-6349 [Print] New Zealand
• PMID: 15783244 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Obesity Agents

Topics

• Anti-Obesity Agents (therapeutic use)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (complications, metabolism, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Obesity (complications, drug therapy, metabolism)