title: Anti-obesity drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of obesity across the world continues to climb, bringing with it otherwise preventable obesity-related comorbidities including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Weight loss is difficult to achieve and maintain through lifestyle interventions alone, leading to intense efforts to develop adjunctive pharmacological approaches. Herein, we examine recent advances in this field and limitations of currently available and emerging agents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liraglutide, lorcaserin and combination of phentermine-topiramate and bupropion-naltrexone have all been the subject of recent studies examining their efficacy as weight-loss agents. Although each effectively induces weight loss over and above placebo, significant concerns exist regarding side-effect profiles and safety, along with their ability to achieve sustained effects. Dropout rates in all examined studies were up to 50% or more, usually a result of intolerable side-effects. Recruitment of a high proportion of women of European descent also casts doubt on the generalizability of trial data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacological interventions for weight loss remain limited, with side-effects often outweighing efficacy. Interestingly, substantial early weight loss was associated with sustained loss, suggesting a responsive phenotype and future trials might best be targeted in identifying responsive subpopulations.
authors.affiliation: aEndocrine and Metabolic Unit, Royal Adelaide HospitalbChemical Pathology Directorate, SA PathologycDiscipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wittert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents