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Continuous and intermittent sibutramine were equally effective at 44 weeks for reducing weight in obesity

Design
Randomised (allocation concealed^*), blinded (investigators and patients),^* placebo controlled trial with 44 weeks of follow up after randomisation.

Setting
108 private practices and 3 hospital outpatient departments in Germany.

Patients
1001 patients who were 18 to 65 years of age (mean age 43 y, 77% women), had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 40 kg/m², and had 1 previous unsuccessful attempt at losing weight by using dietary measures. Exclusion criteria were serious cardiovascular or metabolic diseases; history of drug or alcohol abuse; need for antidepressants, ß;-blockers, or any drugs influencing body weight; or inadequate contraception in women of childbearing age. 79% of patients completed the study; all patients were included in the analysis.

Intervention
Patients who responded (ie, weight loss of 2% or 2 kg) to sibutramine 15 mg/day, during a 4 week run-in period, were allocated to 1 of 3 groups for 44 more weeks: continuous sibutramine 15 . . . [Full text of this article]

Lawrence J Cheskin, MD

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Maryland, USA