DOC News November 1, 2006
Volume 3 Number 11 p. 20
© 2006 American Diabetes Association
Sibutramine Improves Adolescent Weight Loss
The addition of sibutramine (Meridia, Abbott) to a program of behavioral
therapy helped obese adolescents lose more weight—and more significantly
improve metabolic risk factors—than those who took placebo, according to
a study reported in Annals of Internal Medicine.
A group of investigators conducted a trial comparing the effects of
sibutramine and placebo on 498 adolescents 12–16 years of age with a
body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile based on age and sex. All
participants received behavioral therapy that included counseling on
self-monitoring of diet and physical activity and other weight-loss
support.
At the end of 12 months, those who received sibutramine lost more weight
and had a greater decrease in BMI than those who took placebo.
Participants taking the active drug also showed greater improvements in
triglyceride and cholesterol levels, insulin levels, and insulin sensitivity.
Those receiving sibutramine also had greater incidence of tachycardia.
The study had a high number of dropouts, with 24% of the sibutramine group
and 38% of the placebo group withdrawing from the trial. Nonetheless,
researchers conclude that sibutramine is a useful treatment option for
adolescents with a history of unsuccessful weight loss with traditional
therapies.
Berkowitz RI, Fujioka K, Daniels SR, et al., for the
Sibutramine Adolescent Study Group: Effects of sibutramine treatment in obese
adolescents: A randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 145: 81–90, 2006[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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