Study summary · research use only
Current updates in the medical management of obesity
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review discusses medical management of obesity, describing it as a chronic condition linked to type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease, and states obesity therapy should aim to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and mortality. The review notes diet and lifestyle changes remain the primary approach but often produce limited weight loss, and that anti-obesity medications are considered for individuals with a body mass index above 30 kg/m2, or 25 to 30 kg/m2 with co-morbid conditions. It describes recent anti-obesity medications as acting on biological mechanisms that suppress appetite or affect nutrient absorption, and discusses FDA approved anti-obesity drugs and recent patents including phentermine/topiramate, pramlintide, lorcaserin, AOD9604, oleoyl-estrone, trk-beta antagonists, and melanin concentrating hormone.
Abstract
Obesity is a chronic medical condition that is expected to become an indirect but leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Obesity results in type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease. These factors contribute to cardiovascular disease that is a leading cause of death. Therefore, the approach to obesity therapy should be designed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk and mortality. Diet and lifestyle changes remain the cornerstones of therapy for obesity, but the resultant weight loss is often small. For more effective weight loss, individuals have shown to benefit from anti-obesity medications. Anti-Obesity therapy is considered for individuals with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 or ranging from 25 to 30 kg/m2, or individuals with co-morbid conditions. Recent anti-obese medications affect biological mechanisms that suppress appetite and absorb nutrients to regulate body weight. In this review, we discuss the FDA approved anti-obesity drugs and recent patents which include phentermine/topiramate, pramlintide, lorcaserin, AOD9604, oleoyl-estrone, trk-beta antagonists and melanin concentrating hormone that can reduce adiposity at the molecular level.
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