DOC News March 1, 2006
Volume 3 Number 3 p. 8
© 2006 American Diabetes Association
Weight-Loss Drugs More Effective With Lifestyle Change
Bruce Goldfarb
New research confirms what many clinicians long have
suspected—weight-loss drugs work better when taken as part of a
comprehensive strategy that includes physical activity, a sensible diet, and
healthful lifestyle changes.
In the November 17, 2005, issue of the New England Journal of
Medicine, University of Pennsylvania psychologist Thomas W. Wadden, PhD,
and colleagues presented a randomized trial comparing weight-loss drug therapy
alone and in combination with lifestyle
modification.1
COMBINATION THERAPY RESULTS IN GREATER WEIGHT LOSS THAN DRUGS
ALONE.
The study included 224 obese adults, 18–65 years of age. The 180
women and 44 men had a body mass index (BMI) of 30–45. None of the
participants had diabetes, disease of the heart and blood vessels, or other
major medical problems.
Participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups.
Fifty-five people took 15 mg of sibutramine (Meridia, Abbott) daily; 55 people
attended weekly group meetings that focused on diet, exercise, and healthful
lifestyle changes; 60 people took sibutramine and attended weekly group
meetings; and 54 people took sibutramine and had brief counseling from primary
care doctors.
Over a 1-year period, participants who received the combination of
medication and group meetings lost more weight than those who had drug or
lifestyle changes alone.
Those receiving combination therapy lost an average 12.1 kg (27 lb), while
those treated with drug therapy alone lost an average 5 kg (11 lb), and those
who had weekly lifestyle group meetings lost an average 6.7 kg (15 lb). People
who took sibutramine and had brief therapy lost an average 7.5 kg (16.5
lb).
"Our findings strongly suggest that the best weight-loss results will
be obtained when medication is used as an adjunct to a comprehensive program
of diet, exercise, and behavior therapy," researchers conclude.
References
1. Wadden TA, Berkowitz RI, Womble LG, et al.: Randomized trial of
lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy for obesity. N Engl J
Med 353:2111–2120, 2005.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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