Benefits of Antiobesity medications in Obese patients

Obesity is linked with increased morbidity and impacts approximately 19% of women and 14% of men globally. Antiobesity medications (AOMs) has the potential to modulate biological processes that affect appetite and remarkably improve outcomes for patients suffering with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

AOMs should be supplemented along with lifestyle interventions and can be categorized according to their mechanisms of action. Orlistat affects digestive tract absorption and lead to gastrointestinal adverse effects in more than 25% of patients while drugs like phentermine-topiramate and naltrexone-bupropion, modulate appetite in the brain and are linked to constipation in approximately 20% of patients. Hormone-based medications, such as liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide, have similar action as that of enteropancreatic hormones and demonstrate multiple cardiometabolic weight-loss benefits. Adverse effects of these drugs include nausea (28%-44%), diarrhea (21%-30%), and constipation (11%-24%). 

Meta-analyses revealed the weight loss efficacy of these medications compared to placebo: Orlistat (3.1% more weight loss), phentermine-topiramate (8.0%), naltrexone-bupropion (4.1%), liraglutide (4.7%), semaglutide (11.4%), and tirzepatide (12.4%). 

To conclude, AOMs act as an efficient adjunctive therapy to lifestyle changes for enhancing weight loss and health outcomes in individuals with obesity.

Source: Gudzune KA, Kushner RF. Medications for Obesity: A Review. JAMA. 2024;332(7):571–584. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.10816