Abstract

Orlistat- An update after the first half decade of clinical experience

Author(s): Liam J Murphy

Approximately a decade has pasted since the introduction of orlistat for the treatment of obesity. A considerable amount of clinical trial evidence has been accumulated to demonstrate that orlistat is safe and effective both for induction of weight loss and also in weight maintenance. No serious side effects have emerged, either in clinical studies or during postmarketing surveillance. Despite the documented efficacy, adoption of orlistat for the treatment of overweight and obese individuals has been slow. Many factors appear to be responsible, including its relatively modest effect compared with the magnitude of the obesity problem and the failure of many government and private insurance agencies to cover the costs of orlistat and indeed other antiobesity treatments. Obesity is clearly a multifactorial problem that is likely to benefit from a combination of different treatment approaches. Orlistat should be viewed as a safe and useful adjuvant therapy in the treatment of this disease.