Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Paper
  • Published:

Weight reduction and long-term maintenance after 18 months treatment with orlistat for obesity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of orlistat on weight reduction and the long-term maintenance of this weight loss when associated with a continuous mildly reduced energy diet.

DESIGN: A multicenter, 18-month, double-blind study conducted in 81 hospital centers. Patients were randomized to orlistat 120 mg or placebo three times daily in conjunction with a mildly reduced-energy diet maintained throughout the study.

SUBJECTS: In total, 696 otherwise healthy, overweight patients aged 18–65 y (BMI ≥28 kg/m2) were randomized to treatment with orlistat (n=346) or placebo (n=350).

MEASUREMENTS: Body weight, anthropometry, lipid and glycemic control parameters and blood pressure.

RESULTS:After 18 months, patients treated with orlistat lost significantly more body weight compared with placebo (−6.5±0.8 vs −3.0±0.8%; P=0.0005). After 12 months, 32.9% of orlistat vs 24.5% of placebo patients lost ≥10% of their initial weight (P=0.04). A significantly greater number of patients receiving orlistat treatment maintained this ≥10% weight loss compared to those receiving placebo (28.1 vs 13.8%; P<0.0001). Compared with placebo, orlistat was associated with a greater decrease in fasting blood glucose (−0.86±0.12 vs −0.29±0.18 mmol/l; P<0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (−13.0±1.3 vs −7.0±1.3%; P<0.001).

CONCLUSION: A clinically meaningful reduction in body weight and the maintenance of this weight loss is achievable with orlistat treatment and dietary restriction over a period of 18 months. This weight loss resulted in an improvement in risk factors for coronary heart disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Must A, Spadano J, Coakley EH, Field AE, Colditz G, Dietz WH . The disease burden associated with overweight and obesity. JAMA 1999; 282: 1523–1529.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity. Overweight, obesity and health risk. Arch Intern Med 2000; 160: 898–904.

  3. Nutrition and Physical Activity Task Force. Department of Health. HMSO: London; 1995.

  4. Foreyt J, Goodrick K . The ultimate triumph of obesity. Lancet 1995; 346: 34–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. American Diabetes Association. Position statement: nutrition recommendations and principles for people with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 2001; 24: S44–S47.

  6. WHO world health organization. Obesity : preventing and managing the global epidemic. 1998 Report of a WHO consultation on obesity. Geneva, 3–5 June 1997 (WHO/NUT/NCD/98.1).

  7. Sarilo-Lähteenkorva S, Rissanen A, Kaprio J . A descriptive study of weight loss maintenance: 6 and 15-year follow-up of initially overweight adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2000; 24: 116–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kramer FM, Jeffrey RW, Forster JL, Snell MK . Long-term follow-up of behavioural treatment for obesity: patterns of weight regain among men and women. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1989; 13: 123–136.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Guerciolini R . Mode of action of orlistat. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1997; 21(Suppl 3): S12–S23.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Sjöström L, Rissanen A, Andersen T, Boldrin M, Golay A, Koppeschaar HP, Krempf M . Randomised placebo-controlled trial of orlistat for weight loss and prevention of weight regain in obese patients. Lancet 1998; 352: 167–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Davidson MH, Hauptman J, DiGirolamo M, Foreyt JP, Halstead CH, Heber D, Heimburger DC, Lucas CP, Robbins DC, Chung J, Heymsfield SB . Weight control and risk factor reduction in obese subjects treated for 2 y with orlistat: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1999; 281: 235–242.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Rössner S, Sjöström L, Noack R, Meinders AE, Noseda G . Weight loss, weight maintenance, and improved cardiovascular risk factors after 2 y of treatment with orlistat for obesity. Obes Res 2000; 8: 49–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lindroos AK, Lissner L, Sjöström L . Validity and reproducibility of a self-administered dietary questionnaire in obese and non-obese subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 1993; 47: 461–481.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Schoeller DA . Limitations in the assessment of dietary energy intake by self-report. Metabolism 1995; 44(Suppl 2): 18–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Goris AH, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Westerterp KR . Undereating and underrecording of habitual food intake in obese men: selective underreporting of fat intake. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71: 130–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Mittendorfer B, Ostlund RE, Patterson BW, Klein S . Orlistat inhibits dietary cholesterol absorption. Obes Res 2001; 9: 599–604.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Shick SM, Wing RR, Klem ML, McGuire MT, Hill JO, Seagle H . Persons successful at long-term weight loss and maintenance continue to consume a low-energy, low-fat diet. J Am Diet Assoc 1998; 89: 408–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. McGuire MT, Wing RR, Klem ML, Hill JO . Behavioural strategies of individuals who have maintained long-term weight losses. Obes Res 1999; 7: 334–341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. McGuire MT, Wing RR, Klem ML, Lang W, Hill JO . What predicts weight regain in a group of successful weight losers? J Consult Clin Psychol 1999; 67: 177–185.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Wing RR, Hill JO . Successful weight loss maintenance. Annu Rev Nutr 2001; 21: 232–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

In addition to the authors, the following persons participated in the study:

Aboud E (Narbonne), Archambeaud F (Limoges), Babin T (Toulouse), Balarac N (Saint-Laurent Du Var), Barbe P (Toulouse), Baussan V (Toulon), Benatre V (Lyon), Beroud V (Limoges), Beutter D (Vannes), Bex V (Pessac), Bindi P (Verdun), Blaise R (Mulhouse), Blanchard P (Quimper), Blickle J-F (Strasbourg), Boda Buccino M (Nice), Boucherie B (Corbeil-Essonnes), Bouillot P (Nevers), Bourgon C (Lons-Le-Saunier), Boutonnat Y (Nevers), Brac De La Perriere A (Lyon), Brogard J-M (Strasbourg), Brunetiere C (Saint-Nazaire), Brun-Pacaud A (Dijon), Cailleba A (Bayonne), Calazel-Fournier C (Toulouse), Cathelineau G (Paris), Chadenas D (Orléans), Chameau A-M (Saint-Michel), Charpentier G (Corbeil-Essonnes), Chauchard M-C (Toulouse), Chevalier E (Paris), Cirette B (Nevers), Clavel S (Le Creusot), Coffin C (Caen), Colas A-E (Rennes), Courreges J-P (Narbonne), Couturier M (Belfort), Cuny P (Thionville), Cuperlier A (Charleville-Mézières), Dabadie H (Pessac), Davidescu M (Verdun), De Boivilliers F (Montpellier), Dell'isola B (Issy-Les-Moulineaux), Derennes V (Saint-Malo), Devergie B (Creil), Dorey F (Agen), Dougny M (Nevers), Drouin P (Toul), Dubreuil A (Amiens), Dumontier D (Angers), Dusselier L (Metz), Dutour A (Marseille), Duxin C (Vesoul), Estour B (Saint-Etienne), Fayard A (Lille), Fenichel P (Nice), Feraud-Silvestri C (Marseille), Floriot M (Toul), Fontaine G (Toulon), Fontaine P (Lille), Gabreau T (Auxerre), Galinat S (Limoges), Gancel A (Bois-Guillaume), Getin-Bouyer F (Lorient), Gibault T (Créteil), Godeau T (La Rochelle), Goichot B (Strasbourg), Gouet D (La Rochelle), Grunenberger F (Strasbourg), Guillaume V (Marseille), Guillon-Metz F (Caen), Haardt M-J (Paris), Hassler P (Haguenau), Haulot J-P (Tulle), Heim M (Marseille), Hernandez G (Toulouse), Hespel J-P (Rennes), Houque D (Dunkerque), Hubschman B (Arras), Huet D (Paris), Jacquin L (Saint-Etienne), Jaffiol C (Montpellier), Jauffret P (Aix-En-Provence), Khalife S (Belfort), Kharitonnoff T (Tulle), Kuhn J-M (Bois-Guillaume), Lalau J-D (Amiens), Le Devehat C (Nevers), Lemoine A (Nevers), Leroy M (Saint-Benoît La Forêt), Loeb G (Strasbourg), Loison S (Creil), Louis J (Metz), Malinsky M (Thionville), Marcelli J-M (Laon), Marechaud R (Poitiers), Mattei C (Marseille), Mausset J (Limoges), Meyer C (Laval), Monguillon P (Brest), Monnier L-H (Montpellier), Mourlon-Bidaud C (Amiens), Naladon-Chambrier S (Limoges), Narboni G (Besançon), Olivier F (Cahors), Oppert J-M (Paris), Orgiazzi J (Pierre-Bénite), Ortega F (Strasbourg), Ory J-P (Vesoul), Paris-Bockel D (Strasbourg), Perlemuter L (Créteil), Peylhard A-M (Nîmes), Pinel J-C (Nevers), Pinget M (Strasbourg), Pommet-Nicot C (Pierre-Bénite), Potier R (Thionville), Pradignac A (Strasbourg), Prevost G (Lille), Pugeat M (Lyon), Recchi V (Nice), Richard J-L (Le Grau Du Roi), Rieu M (Paris), Riou J-P (Lyon), Rodier M (Nîmes), Roger P (Pessac), Rollin P (Besançon), Roques M (Périgueux), Roux C (Paris), Sadoul J-L (Nice), Sandre-Banon D (Bondy), Schletzer A (Laval), Schlienger J-L (Strasbourg), Schmitt B (Lorient), Semon C (Besançon), Siemen C (Saint-Malo), Slama G (Paris), Stevenard C (Dunkerque), Thevenot A (Pessac), Torremocha F (Poitiers), Vague P (Marseille), Valensi P (Bondy), Vanhoutte C (Nevers), Vannereau D (Le Grau Du Roi), Verlet E (Dunkerque), Vidal E (Limoges), Villard H (Saint-Etienne), Wautelet R (Charleville-Mézières), Winiszewski P (Belfort), Zaïr Y (Nantes), Zerah-Allali V (Caen).

We gratefully acknowledge all dietitians and nurses who helped to conduct this trial and François Montestruc (Biostatistician), Emmanuelle Pines (Drug Safety Physician) and Sophie Vigneron (Clinical Research Associate Coordinator) for their contributions to this study. This study was funded by Roche, Neuilly, France.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Krempf.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Krempf, M., Louvet, JP., Allanic, H. et al. Weight reduction and long-term maintenance after 18 months treatment with orlistat for obesity. Int J Obes 27, 591–597 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802281

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802281

Keywords

Search

Quick links