Effectiveness and predictors of weight loss response to phentermine plus lifestyle modifications among youth in a paediatric weight management clinical setting.

BACKGROUND: Anti-obesity medications (AOMs) are promising lifestyle modification (LSM) adjuncts for obesity treatment, and phentermine is commonly prescribed in paediatric weight management clinics. Determining 'real-world' AOM effectiveness and characteristics predicting response is important. OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe phentermine plus LSM effectiveness and identify baseline characteristics predicting response. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study among youth seen in a US academic-based weight management clinic from 2012 to 2020. Baseline characteristics (e.g., body mass index (BMI), liver transaminases, eating-related behaviours) and outcomes (%BMI of 95th percentile (%BMIp95), BMI, %BMI change, weight) were determined through electronic health records and intake surveys. RESULTS: Among 91 youth prescribed phentermine plus LSM over 8 years (mean %BMIp95 150%), %BMIp95 was statistically significantly reduced at 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 months (peak reduction 10.9 percentage points at 6 months; p < 0.001). Considering multiple comparisons, the presence of baseline elevated alanine aminotransferase was associated with statistically significant smaller 1.5-month %BMIp95 reductions (p = 0.001) and higher food responsiveness with smaller 3- (p = 0.001) and 6-month (p < 0.001) reductions. CONCLUSIONS: Phentermine plus LSM reduced %BMIp95 among youth in a weight management clinic, and baseline characteristics may help determine those more or less likely to respond. Prospective studies are needed to further characterize effectiveness and confirm response predictors.

[Current State of Pharmacotherapy in Obesity].

The prevalence of obesity with various complications is increasing rapidly in Korea. Although lifestyle modification is fundamental in obesity treatment, more effective treatment tools are required. Many advances in obesity treatment have been reported recently, including lifestyle modifications and pharmacological, endoscopic, and surgical treatments. Drugs with proven long-term efficacy and safety are preferred because management for obesity treatment is a long-term process. Currently, four medications are available for long-term use in Korea: Orlistat, Naltrexone/bupuropion NR, Phentermine/topiramate capsule, and Liraglutide. Recently, semaglutide and tirzepatide have been attracting attention because of their effectiveness and convenience, but they are not yet available in Korea. In addition, there are limitations such as the yo-yo effect when discontinuing the drug, long-term safety, and cost. Patients and medical staff must be aware of the advantages and side effects of each medication to ensure the successful treatment of obesity.

Utilization of Anti-obesity Medications After Bariatric Surgery: Analysis of a Large National Database.

PURPOSE: A significant proportion of patients experience insufficient weight loss or weight regain after bariatric surgery. There is a paucity of literature describing anti-obesity medication (AOM) use following bariatric surgery. We sought to identify prevalence and trends of AOM use following bariatric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilized the IBM Explorys® database to identify all adults with prior bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy). Those prescribed AOMs (semaglutide, liraglutide, topiramate, phentermine/topiramate, naltrexone/bupropion, orlistat) within 5 years of surgery were further identified. Data was analyzed to characterize AOM utilization among different age, demographic, and comorbid populations. RESULTS: A total of 59,160 adults with prior bariatric surgery were included. Among AOMs studies, prevalence of use was highest for topiramate (8%), followed by liraglutide (2.9%), phentermine/topiramate (1.03%), naltrexone/bupropion (0.95%) semaglutide (0.52%), and orlistat (0.17%). Age distribution varied, with the highest utilization among those age 35-39 years for topiramate, 40-44 years for phentermine/topiramate and naltrexone/bupropion, 45-49 years for semaglutide, and 65-69 years for liraglutide and orlistat. African American race was associated with higher utilization across all AOMs. Among comorbidities, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus were most associated with AOM use. CONCLUSION: Despite a relatively high incidence of weight regain, AOMs are underutilized following bariatric surgery. It is imperative that barriers to their use be addressed and that AOMs be considered earlier and more frequently in patients with insufficient weight loss or weight regain after bariatric surgery.

SMART use of medications for the treatment of adolescent severe obesity: A sequential multiple assignment randomized trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Severe obesity is a complex, chronic disease affecting nearly 9% of adolescents in the U.S. Although the current mainstay of treatment is lifestyle therapy, pediatric clinical practice guidelines recommend the addition of adjunct anti-obesity medication (AOM), such as phentermine and topiramate. However, guidance regarding when adjunct AOM should be started and how AOM should be used is unclear. Furthermore, an inherent limitation of current treatment guidelines is their "one-size-fits-all" approach, which does not account for the heterogeneous nature of obesity and high degree of patient variability in response to all interventions. METHODS: This paper describes the study design and methods of a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART), "SMART Use of Medications for the Treatment of Adolescent Severe Obesity." The trial will examine 1) when to start AOM (specifically phentermine) in adolescents who are not responding to lifestyle therapy and 2) how to modify AOM when there is a sub-optimal response to the initial pharmacological intervention (specifically, for phentermine non-responders, is it better to add topiramate to phentermine or switch to topiramate monotherapy). Critically, participant characteristics that may differentially affect response to treatment will be assessed and evaluated as potential moderators of intervention efficacy. CONCLUSION: Data from this study will be used to inform the development of an adaptive intervention for the treatment of adolescent severe obesity that includes empirically-derived decision rules regarding when and how to use AOM. Future research will test this adaptive intervention against standard "one-size-fits-all" treatments.

Cost-Effectiveness of Antiobesity Drugs for Adolescents With Severe Obesity.

Importance: Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended treatment with antiobesity drugs for adolescents, the cost-effectiveness of antiobesity drugs for this population is still unknown. Objective: To quantify cost-effectiveness of different antiobesity drugs available for pediatric use. Design, Setting, and Participants: This economic evaluation used a Markov microsimulation model with health states defined by obesity levels. Effectiveness was measured by quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs were calculated from third-party payer perspective, estimated in 2023 US dollars over a 10-year horizon. Data were obtained from the published literature. Intervention: Antiobesity drugs orlistat, liraglutide, semaglutide, and phentermine-topiramate vs no treatment. Metformin hydrochloride and 2 types of bariatric surgical procedures (sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass) were considered in sensitivity analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Results: Among the 4 antiobesity drugs currently approved for pediatric use, phentermine-topiramate was the most cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $93 620 per QALY relative to no treatment in this simulated cohort of 10 000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (mode, 15 years) with severe obesity (62% female). While semaglutide offered more QALYs than phentermine-topiramate, its higher cost resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ($1 079 480/QALY) that exceeded the commonly used willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 to $150 000/QALY. Orlistat and liraglutide cost more and were less effective than phentermine-topiramate and semaglutide, respectively. Sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass were more effective than phentermine-topiramate but were also more costly, rendering them not cost-effective compared with phentermine-topiramate at the willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 to $150 000/QALY. Conclusions and Relevance: In this economic evaluation of weight loss drugs for adolescents with severe obesity, we found phentermine-topiramate to be a cost-effective treatment at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 to $150 000/QALY. Further research is needed to determine long-term drug efficacy and how long adolescents continue treatment.

Estimated minimum prices and lowest available national prices for antiobesity medications: Improving affordability and access to treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Novel antiobesity treatments are highly effective in recent clinical trials. Access to these medications is needed to supplement lifestyle and surgical interventions for millions living with obesity worldwide, but high prices are limiting. This study aimed to review current treatment costs and calculate potential estimated minimum prices (EMPs). METHODS: The authors searched national drug price databases across various countries for orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, topiramate-phentermine, liraglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide. EMPs for antiobesity medications were calculated using established methodology, using active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) from the Panjiva database. EMPs were calculated per 30-day course and include costs of active pharmaceutical ingredients, excipients, formulation, taxation, and 10% profit margin. RESULTS: National prices of antiobesity medications were significantly higher than calculated EMPs. Semaglutide 30-day course prices ranged from $804 (United States) to $95 (Turkey) while the EMP was $40. Liraglutide prices ranged from $1418 (United States) to $252 (Norway) while the EMP was $50. Some oral treatments could be generically manufactured at very low costs per course ($7 for orlistat; $5 for phentermine/topiramate combination tablets), while naltrexone/bupropion was more expensive ($54). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that certain weight loss treatments can be manufactured and sold profitably at low costs, but prices currently range widely between countries, limiting access for those in need.

Impact on Cardiovascular Health of Using Phentermine/Topiramate in Combination With Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Super Obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Management of patients with BMI≥50 kg/m2 is challenging. In previous work, pre and postoperative pharmacotherapy with phentermine/topiramate plus laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (PT + SG) promoted greater weight loss than sleeve gastrectomy (SG) alone at 24 mo postoperatively. This current secondary analysis studied the impact of PT + SG on blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and antihypertensive usage. METHODS: Patients with BMI≥50 kg/m2 planning to have SG (n = 13) were recruited from 2014 to 2016, at an academic medical center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, for this open-label trial. Participants took phentermine/topiramate (PT; 7.5/46-15/92 mg/d) for ≥3 mo preoperatively and 24 mo postoperatively. The control group (n = 40) underwent SG during the same time frame. We used mixed models for BP and heart rate to compare PT + SG versus SG alone over time, adjusted for age, sex, and initial BP. RESULTS: By 24 mo postoperatively the model adjusted changes in systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) (mm Hg) were -24.44 (-34.46,-14.43)/-28.60 (-40.74,-16.46) in the PT + SG group versus -11.81 (-17.58,-6.05)/-13.89 (-21.32,-6.46) in the control group (SBP P = 0.02; DBP P = 0.03). At baseline 8 (61.5%) participants in the PT + SG arm and 22 (55.0%) in the control group used antihypertensives. Excluding patients lost to follow-up (n = 3), by 24 mo postoperatively, none of the PT + SG participants were on antihypertensives compared to 14 (41.2%) in the control group (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BMI≥50 kg/m2 treated with PT + SG had greater improvement in BP with no use of antihypertensive medication at 24 mo postoperatively versus SG alone, where 41% continued medication use. Larger trials are required to evaluate this.

AGA Clinical Practice Guideline on Pharmacological Interventions for Adults With Obesity.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pharmacological management of obesity improves outcomes and decreases the risk of obesity-related complications. This American Gastroenterological Association guideline is intended to support practitioners in decisions about pharmacological interventions for overweight and obesity. METHODS: A multidisciplinary panel of content experts and guideline methodologists used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework to prioritize clinical questions, identify patient-centered outcomes, and conduct an evidence synthesis of the following agents: semaglutide 2.4 mg, liraglutide 3.0 mg, phentermine-topiramate extended-release (ER), naltrexone-bupropion ER, orlistat, phentermine, diethylpropion, and Gelesis100 oral superabsorbent hydrogel. The guideline panel used the evidence-to-decision framework to develop recommendations for the pharmacological management of obesity and provided implementation considerations for clinical practice. RESULTS: The guideline panel made 9 recommendations. The panel strongly recommended the use of pharmacotherapy in addition to lifestyle intervention in adults with overweight and obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, or ≥27 kg/m2 with weight-related complications) who have an inadequate response to lifestyle interventions. The panel suggested the use of semaglutide 2.4 mg, liraglutide 3.0 mg, phentermine-topiramate ER, and naltrexone-bupropion ER (based on moderate certainty evidence), and phentermine and diethylpropion (based on low certainty evidence), for long-term management of overweight and obesity. The guideline panel suggested against the use of orlistat. The panel identified the use of Gelesis100 oral superabsorbent hydrogel as a knowledge gap. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with overweight and obesity who have an inadequate response to lifestyle interventions alone, long-term pharmacological therapy is recommended, with multiple effective and safe treatment options.

The use of virtual visits for obesity pharmacotherapy in patients with overweight or obesity compared with in-person encounters.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to demonstrate noninferiority using telehealth in treating obesity with phentermine in patients with BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 with comorbidities or BMI ≥ 30 compared with the standard in-person approach over a 90-day period. METHODS: A 12-week, randomized, prospective, single-center, open label trial compared the use of virtual visits versus in-person visits for the treatment of obesity using phentermine. The primary end point was percentage mean change in body weight from baseline to 12 weeks. A noninferiority approach assuming a 3% noninferiority region was used to assess effect size differences. RESULTS: The weight loss in the virtual visit arm was noninferior to the in-person arm at all time points. At 12 weeks, the mean change in weight was -6.5% among the virtual group and -7.7% among the in-person group. In addition, 65% of virtual patients and 71% of in-person patients demonstrated a weight reduction of at least 5%. There was no difference in medication tolerance, adherence, and compliance. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the virtual obesity pharmacotherapy visits in adults aged 18 to 65 years prescribed phentermine are effective and noninferior in achieving meaningful weight loss after 12 weeks. Future clinical trials are needed to better assess the effectiveness of televisits for obesity pharmacotherapy.

Effect of Phentermine on Hepatic Steatosis in Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatic steatosis is associated with increased surgical complications in bariatric surgery patients. We aimed to evaluate the effect of phentermine in reducing hepatic steatosis, adipose tissue, and surgical complications in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODS: This was a two-arm, double-blind, randomized, controlled pilot trial of 64 adult subjects with BMI >35 kg/m2 selected for bariatric surgery randomized into phentermine group (15 mg once daily) or placebo group for 8 weeks. Both groups adhered to a hypocaloric diet (500 calories/day) and an individualized exercise program. The primary endpoint was reducing the frequency of hepatic steatosis measured by ultrasound and reducing adipose tissue through fat mass in total kilograms or percentage. Key secondary points were the prevalence of surgical complications. Baseline and final biochemical parameters and blood pressure too were assessments. RESULTS: In the phentermine group, the frequency of hepatic steatosis decreased by 19%, and the percentage of patients with a normal ultrasound increased from 9% to 28% (p = 0.05). Likewise, the decrease in fat mass in kilograms was more significant in the phentermine group (56.1 kg vs. 51.8 kg, p = 0.02). A significant reduction in the HOMA-IR index was observed regardless of weight loss. No differences in surgical complications were observed between groups. Phentermine was well-tolerated; no differences were observed in the frequency of adverse events between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Phentermine decreased the proportion of individuals with hepatic steatosis by 19% and promoted a more significant fat mass loss in kilograms among candidates for bariatric surgery.

Anti-obesity Medications for the Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Obesity is closely associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a highly prevalent disease without any approved medication. The aim of this review was to summarize the evidence on the effect of anti-obesity medications on NAFLD, especially focusing on hepatic histology. RECENT FINDINGS: Orlistat and some glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor analogs, including liraglutide and semaglutide, have beneficial effects on hepatic steatosis and inflammation, but not fibrosis. Other anti-obesity medications, including lorcaserin, setmelanotide, phentermine hydrochloric, phentermine/topiramate, and naltrexone/bupropion, have been minimally investigated in NAFLD. Furthermore, medications like sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and farnesoid X receptor have shown beneficial effects in both NAFLD and obesity, but they have not been licensed for either disease. Liraglutide, semaglutide, and orlistat may be currently used in selected patients with obesity and NAFLD. Further research is warranted, since targeting obesity may provide additional benefits on its comorbidities, including NAFLD.

JCL Roundtable. Obesity, Diabetes, and Liver Disease in Relation to Cardiovascular Risk.

Metabolic risk for cardiovascular and other systems includes much more than just LDL cholesterol. This JCL Roundtable brings together 3 experts to address new opportunities to reduce the risks posed by obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. Successful nutritional approaches to weight loss are diverse and need to be matched with individual preferences. Topiramate plus extended-release phentermine has been shown to promote meaningful weight loss in randomized trials, but the patented drug combination is expensive. Clinical experience suggests that generic topiramate and phentermine may also be effective. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) have shown favorable tolerability and efficacy for cardiovascular disease in randomized trials, an achievement without precedent among earlier diabetes medications. These 2 drug classes differ in their effects. GLP-1 RAs decrease atherosclerotic cardiovascular events and also decrease hemoglobin A1c, body weight, blood pressure, and possibly diabetic renal disease. SGLT2 inhibitors are effective in reducing heart failure events even among nondiabetic patients. They also decrease progression of diabetic renal disease. The presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease signifies risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease as well as cirrhosis and serious hepatic decompensation, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The key to identifying cirrhosis risk is to assess pre-emptively liver fibrosis, which can be predicted initially with blood test risk scores (e.g., FIB-4 index) and more definitively by transient elastography and other imaging techniques and/or liver biopsy. Some medications approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes may reduce liver fat (SGLT2 inhibitors, insulin) or even reverse steatohepatitis in paired liver biopsy studies (GLP-1 RAs or pioglitazone) Overall the field of preventive metabolic medicine is expanding. Clinical lipidologists should become familiar with recent advances.

Benefits of weight loss of 10% or more in patients with overweight or obesity: A review.

OBJECTIVE: Modest weight loss (5%-10%) is clinically meaningful in patients with overweight or obesity. However, greater weight loss may be required to achieve improvements in or remission of certain weight-related complications. Therefore, this study reviewed the effect of large weight loss (≥10%). Most studies reporting large weight loss and relevant outcomes used bariatric surgery or lifestyle modifications. RESULTS: Benefits of large weight loss were observed in patients with various overweight- or obesity-related complications, including improvements in comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Improvements in glucose metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors were observed in patients who achieved large weight loss through lifestyle interventions or pharmacotherapy (phentermine/topiramate 15/92 mg once daily or subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly). Other benefits associated with large weight loss included reduced cancer risk and improvements in knee osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, fertility-related end points, and health-related quality of life. While costly, bariatric surgery is currently the most cost-effective intervention, although most weight-management programs are deemed cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, large weight loss has a major beneficial impact on overweight- and obesity-related complications. Large weight loss should be the main treatment target when modest weight loss has had insufficient effects on obesity-related complications and for patients with severe obesity.

The Effect of Orlistat on Sterol Metabolism in Obese Patients.

Background: Orlistat, a reversible inhibitor of pancreatic and gastric lipase, is known to have anti-obesity and antioxidant properties. Cholesterol intermediates and metabolites have diverse and important functions in cardiovascular disease. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of orlistat on sterol metabolism in overweight and obese adults after weight loss during the intervention or weight loss at 12 weeks. Methods: A total of 51 (27 in the control group and 24 in the experimental group), patients with a BMI of 27 or greater were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either orlistat (120 mg) three times a day plus phentermine hydrochloride (37.5 mg) once daily or a placebo three times a day plus phentermine hydrochloride (37.5 mg) once daily. The primary study outcome was sterol metabolism. Results: The experimental group exhibited significantly decreased metabolic signatures of serum sterols, free cholesterol, sitosterol, 7α-hydroxycholesterol (7α-OHC), and 7ß-OHC at 12 weeks. The experimental group also exhibited significantly decreased metabolic ratios of sitosterol and 7α-OHC to cholesterol at 12 weeks. Regarding changes in sterol signatures from baseline to 6-month follow-up, free cholesterol, plant sterols, and cholesterol precursors tended to decrease with weight loss during the intervention and increase again as the weight was regained in both groups. Conclusion: Orlistat treatment improves oxysterol metabolism in overweight and obese adults. Our findings support that orlistat plays a crucial role in the process of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis via oxysterol modulation.

Phentermine-topiramate extended release for the dual treatment of obesity and sleep-related eating disorder: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and eating disorders can present together, and pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the clinician. Generally, lifestyle interventions alone for the treatment of obesity have modest long-term effectiveness. Phentermine-topiramate extended release is a relatively new medication approved for weight reduction. Sleep-related eating disorder is a rare condition that is often underdiagnosed. Both conditions are chronic and require long-term management. There is no definitive treatment for sleep-related eating disorder, and therapeutic options are based on case reports. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old Caucasian male with a body mass index of 41.7 kg/m2 presented for obesity treatment. History revealed nocturnal episodes of hyperphagia associated with amnesia of overeating and other features of sleep-related eating disorder. Treatment was initiated with phentermine-topiramate extended release. Five months later he lost 5% of his body weight and demonstrated resolution of sleep-related eating disorder behaviors. He reported no adverse side effects. Upon self-discontinuation of the medication, his eating disorder recurred. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians intending to help patients reduce body weight should screen for nocturnal eating and other eating disorders. Sleep-related eating disorder can be associated with significant morbidity and excess weight. Patients report adverse effects on quality of life as a result. Phentermine-topiramate extended release may be a good therapeutic option for patients presenting with comorbid obesity and sleep-related eating disorder. More research is needed to explore the efficacy and safety in this patient population.

Drugs for Treating Obesity.

Older medications approved for chronic weight management (orlistat, naltrexone/bupropion, liraglutide 3 mg and, in the USA, phentermine/topiramate) have not been widely adopted by health care providers. Those medications produce only modest additional weight loss when used to augment lifestyle intervention. However, semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly has recently emerged and produces much more weight loss - on average 15% weight loss at 1 year. Semaglutide's enhanced efficacy and that its class (GLP-1 receptor analogs) is well-known may result in more clinicians adopting pharmacotherapy. Furthermore, the first dedicated cardiovascular outcome trial powered for superiority testing an anti-obesity medication (SELECT) is underway with semaglutide 2.4 mg. A positive outcome will further promote the concept that weight management should be a primary target for cardiometabolic disease control. In phase 3, tirzepatide and cagrilintide/semaglutide combination are showing promise for even greater weight loss efficacy. Another recently approved medication takes a personalized medicine approach; setmelanotide is approved as a therapy for those with some of the ultra-rare genetic diseases characterized by severe, early onset obesity. This chapter reviews the currently available and anticipated medications for chronic weight management as well as those approved for the genetic and syndromic obesities.

Effectiveness of anti-obesity medications approved for long-term use in a multidisciplinary weight management program: a multi-center clinical experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Randomized clinical trials have proven the efficacy and safety of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs) for long-term use. It is unclear whether these outcomes can be replicated in real-world clinical practice where clinical complexities arise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and side effects of these medications in real-world multidisciplinary clinical practice settings. METHODS: We reviewed the electronic medical records (EMR) of patients with obesity who were prescribed an FDA-approved AOM for long-term use in academic and community multidisciplinary weight loss programs between January 2016 and January 2020. INTERVENTION: We assessed percentage total body weight loss (%TBWL), metabolic outcomes, and side effect profile up to 24 months after AOM initiation. RESULTS: The full cohort consisted of 304 patients (76% women, 95.2% White, median age of 50 years old [IQR, 39-58]). The median follow-up time was 9.1 months [IQR, 4.2-14.1] with a median number of 3 visits [IQR, 2-4]. The most prescribed medication was phentermine/topiramate extended-release (ER) (51%), followed by liraglutide (26.3%), bupropion/naltrexone sustained-release (SR) (16.5%), and lorcaserin (6.2%). %TBWL was 5.0%, 6.8%, 9.3%, 10.3%, and 10.5% at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. 60.2% of the entire cohort achieved at least 5% TBWL. Overall, phentermine/topiramate-ER had the most robust weight loss response during follow-up, with the highest %TBWL at 12 months of 12.0%. Adverse events were reported in 22.4% of patients. Only 9% of patients discontinued the medication due to side effects. CONCLUSIONS: AOMs resulted in significant long-term weight loss, that was comparable to outcomes previously reported in clinical trials.

Weight-Loss Strategies for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases in the United States and worldwide. Obesity accounts for much of the risk for primary hypertension through several mechanisms, including neurohormonal activation, inflammation, and kidney dysfunction. As the prevalence of obesity continues to increase, hypertension and associated cardiorenal diseases will also increase unless more effective strategies to prevent and treat obesity are developed. Lifestyle modification, including diet, reduced sedentariness, and increased physical activity, is usually recommended for patients with obesity; however, the long-term success of these strategies for reducing adiposity, maintaining weight loss, and reducing blood pressure has been limited. Effective pharmacotherapeutic and procedural strategies, including metabolic surgeries, are additional options to treat obesity and prevent or attenuate obesity hypertension, target organ damage, and subsequent disease. Medications can be useful for short- and long-term obesity treatment; however, prescription of these drugs is limited. Metabolic surgery is effective for producing sustained weight loss and for treating hypertension and metabolic disorders in many patients with severe obesity. Unanswered questions remain related to the mechanisms of obesity-related diseases, long-term efficacy of different treatment and prevention strategies, and timing of these interventions to prevent obesity and hypertension-mediated target organ damage. Further investigation, including randomized controlled trials, is essential to addressing these questions, and emphasis should be placed on the prevention of obesity to reduce the burden of hypertensive cardiovascular and kidney diseases and subsequent mortality.

Prescribing trends and clinical characteristics of patients starting antiobesity drugs in the United States.

AIM: To assess the trends in the prescribing of antiobesity medications and the characteristics of patients recently initiating antiobesity drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study using claims data from commercial health insurances in the United States. Patients initiating an antiobesity drug between January 2004 and December 2018 were included. Trends in the utilization of antiobesity medications were plotted by year, as a proportion of any antiobesity treatment, and as initiation rates per 100 000. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the characteristics of antiobesity initiators. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2018, 626 216 patients started an antiobesity medication (two per 100 000). Phentermine was the most frequently prescribed (50% in 2018). In recent years (2015-2018), among 227 692 patients who initiated an antiobesity drug, 51% started phentermine, 19% naltrexone-bupropion, and 13% liraglutide 3.0 mg. Compared to other agents, the use of liraglutide 3.0 mg increased between 2015 and 2018. The average age of initiators was 45 years, 81% of initiators were female, 32% had hypertension, 25% had dyslipidaemia, and 6% had type 2 diabetes. Time on treatment was generally short (mean 81 days). CONCLUSION: The overall use of antiobesity medications remained low over the past 15 years and phentermine was the preferred antiobesity agent. Although the use of potentially safer antiobesity agents, for example, liraglutide 3.0 mg, has increased in recent years, phentermine remained the most frequently prescribed agent among middle-aged adults with a moderate burden of comorbidities.