Anti-obesity medication, lifestyle changes can result in 10% weight loss: Study
Washington (US), June 21: Overweight and obese people maintained an average weight loss of 10.6 percent over 3 to 5 years with a programme of lifestyle changes in combination with anti-obesity medications, suggests a new study.
Researchers believe that a weight loss of more than 10 percent provides significant health benefits. "Data on the effectiveness of anti-obesity medications for long-term weight loss maintenance in the real world has been limited to 1 to 2 years," says lead researcher Michael A. Weintraub, M.D., of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, N.Y.
"Our study is unique because we analyzed weight loss maintenance over 3-5 years in more than 400 adults with overweight and obesity who were taking weight-loss medications," the team of researchers added.
The study analyzed data from 428 participants at an academic weight-loss centre. During their office appointments, the obesity medicine specialist counselled all patients on a low-glycemic diet and exercise. Patients were also given the option of additional counselling with a qualified dietitian.
FDA-approved and off-label weight-loss medications were used in medical therapy. Metformin, phentermine and topiramate were the most commonly utilised medications. Patients were taking an average of two medications for weight management at the time of the final visit.
Also Read | PM Modi leads Yoga Day celebrations from Mysuru, says yoga brings peace to society
Patients were followed for an average of 4.7 years. They lost and maintained an average weight loss of 10.6% with medical therapy and lifestyle interventions over 3 to 5 years.
"A 10 percent weight loss is clinically significant because it is associated with improvements in cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obstructive sleep apnea as well as improvements in mobility and overall quality of life," the author of the study said.
Obesity rates in the United States are approaching 40%, according to Weintraub.
"Anti-obesity medications are an underutilized treatment option for obesity and can prevent obesity-related diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease," he said, adding, "This research supports the utility of anti-obesity medications in achieving long-term weight loss maintenance."
Also Read | Punjab Vigilance arrests IAS officer Sanjay Popli for corruption
-PTC News
