The STORM report: implications for care

Abstract

Sibutramine is a newly available satiety-inducing agent which also increases energy expenditure. Its efficacy was evaluated with a two-year controlled study called STORM (Sibutramine Trial of Obesity Reduction and Maintenance). 605 obese subjects (BMI 30—45 kg/m²) were recruited, and 499 completed an initial six months of exercise, diet and sibutramine (10 mg/day) therapy. 93% achieved >5% weight loss. After a further 18 months of this treatment most subjects maintained 80% of their body weight loss whereas subjects receiving placebo tablets regained over 75% of their weight loss. The STORM trial suggests that sibutramine promotes weight loss and may assist weight control in obese subjects unable to maintain adequate dietary regimens, whereas efficacy of the pancreatic lipase inhibitor orlistat is dependent on dietary compliance.

Keywords

sibutramine serotonin noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor obesity STORM study.

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