Pharmacotherapy of obesity

Abstract

Whereas several drugs to treat most other chronic conditions have been developed over the last 30 years, progress in pharmacologic therapy for obesity has been slow.1 The record of drug treatment for obesity partly explains this phenomenon and is of concern. Several compounds have been withdrawn when severe side effects have been discovered.2,3 The lack of scientifically developed safe and effective antiobesity drugs has opened the gates for an enormous number of commercial products that make vast sums of money, but have no scientific evidence backing their efficacy. This pattern is seen in both developed and developing countries. Table 1 summarizes some of the presently accepted, scientifically evaluated antiobesity drugs. At present, orlistat and sibutramine are the only two major drugs used almost worldwide.