Editorial
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Diabetes. Feb 15, 2011; 2(2): 19-23
Published online Feb 15, 2011. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v2.i2.19
Rise and fall of anti-obesity drugs
Ming-Fang Li, Bernard MY Cheung
Ming-Fang Li, Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Bernard MY Cheung, Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: Li MF wrote the first draft of the manuscript; and Cheung BMY revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Bernard MY Cheung, PhD, FRCP, Professor, University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China. mycheung@hku.hk
Telephone: +852-22554347 Fax: +852-28166474
Received: October 8, 2010
Revised: December 28, 2010
Accepted: January 4, 2011
Published online: February 15, 2011
Abstract

Although it is not generally a life-threatening disease, obesity is becoming a major health problem worldwide. It can be controlled by means of drugs, and, consequently, these are required to be safe as well as effective. In this paper, we summarize the fate of various drugs that have been introduced for clinical use in the treatment of obesity. Fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were withdrawn because of heart valve damage. Sibutramine suppresses appetite and increases heart rate and blood pressure. In the Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcomes trial, an increase in major adverse cardiovascular events prompted its withdrawal in Europe and the United States. Rimonabant is an endocannabinoid receptor antagonist that reduces body weight and ameliorates some cardiovascular risk factors. However, adverse psychiatric side effects led to its withdrawal as well. Orlistat is approved in Europe and the United States for the treatment of obesity, but its use is limited by gastrointestinal side-effects. Ephedrine and caffeine are natural ingredients in foods and supplements that may help the person to lose weight. In the light of several failed attempts, there is a clear need to develop drugs that are effective and safe in the long term in order to successfully combat the phenomenon of obesity .

Keywords: Obesity; Anti-obesity drugs; Sibutramine; Rimonabant; Orlistat