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Current Atherosclerosis Reports
Published in: Current Atherosclerosis Reports 7/2016

01-07-2016 | Clinical Trials and Their Interpretations (J. Kizer, Section Editor)

Pharmacologic Approaches to Weight Management: Recent Gains and Shortfalls in Combating Obesity

Authors: Katherine H. Saunders, Rekha B. Kumar, Leon I. Igel, Louis J. Aronne

Published in: Current Atherosclerosis Reports | Issue 7/2016

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Abstract

Obesity is a growing epidemic in the USA with over one third of adults presently classified as obese. Obesity-related comorbidities include many leading causes of preventable death such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Modest weight loss of 5–10 % of body weight is sufficient to produce clinically relevant improvements in cardiovascular disease risk factors among patients with overweight and obesity. Until recently, there were limited pharmacologic options approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat obesity. Phentermine/topiramate ER and lorcaserin were approved in 2012, and naltrexone SR/bupropion SR and liraglutide 3.0 mg were approved in 2014. This article reviews recent literature in the field of Obesity Medicine and highlights important findings from clinical trials. Future directions in the pharmacologic management of obesity are presented along with new diabetes medications that promote weight loss and reduce cardiovascular mortality.
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Metadata
Title
Pharmacologic Approaches to Weight Management: Recent Gains and Shortfalls in Combating Obesity
Authors
Katherine H. Saunders
Rekha B. Kumar
Leon I. Igel
Louis J. Aronne
Publication date
01-07-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Atherosclerosis Reports / Issue 7/2016
Print ISSN: 1523-3804
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6242
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-016-0589-y

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