title: Recent advancements in drug treatment of obesity.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity is rising worldwide, with the U.K. having the highest prevalence in Europe. Obesity is associated with significant morbidity and has substantial healthcare implications, with current projections estimating that by 2030 obesity will cost the NHS approximately pounds 2 billion each year. Lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone of anti-obesity treatment, but drugs can be introduced as adjuncts to assist and maintain weight loss. Some 1.45 million obesity-related prescriptions were dispensed in 2009, highlighting the high demand for obesity pharmacotherapy. At present, the lipase inhibitor orlistat (Xenical) is the only UK-approved long-term medical therapy for obesity. Double-blind clinical trials have shown that orlistat significantly increases weight loss compared to placebo, but the array of adverse side effects associated with orlistat limits its tolerability. The need for more effective and better-tolerated anti-obesity medications is clear and six therapies have reached phase-III trials.
authors.affiliation: University College London, Centre for Liver and Digestive Health, Royal Free Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mouralidarane
authors.forename: Shuvra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Junpei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soeda
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oben
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D048588:Benzoxazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005632:Fructose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008019:Life Style; D000069450:Liraglutide; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077403:Orlistat; D010645:Phentermine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077236:Topiramate; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001552:Benzazepines; D048588:Benzoxazines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007783:Lactones; C000591595:bupropion hydrochloride, naltrexone hydrochoride drug combination; D016642:Bupropion; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D009271:Naltrexone; C506658:lorcaserin; D000069450:Liraglutide; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000077403:Orlistat; D010645:Phentermine; C520092:cetilistat