Effects of Sibutramine Use on Weight, Body Mass Index, Waist/HIP Ratio, and Blood Lipid Parameters, Compared to Placebo, in Obese Individuals

Worldwide obesity is a chronic condition that is characterized by accumulation of extra fat in the body and that results in increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of sibutramine, an anorectic medication, on body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio and blood lipid parameters in obese individuals. The study enrolled 58 obese patients (54 female and 4 male) whose BMI was > 30 and mean age was 40.53 ± 10. The patients were allocated to two groups. Group I was administered sibutramine 10 mg / day (n=30) and Group II received placebo (n=28). In addition, the two groups were given a calorie-restricted diet apart from their treatments. Body weights, BMI, waist/hip ratios, serum lipids, blood pressures and heart rates of enrolled patients were measured before the treatment and after 12 weeks of treatment. Echocardiographic evaluation was also made. At the end of study, body weights of sibutramine group and placebo group decreased significantly, compared to pretreatment (for each group p level < 0.05), but no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups. BMI decreased both in sibutramine group (p < 0.05) and placebo group (p < 0.05). Waist/hip ratio decreased in sibutramine group (p0.05). Systolic blood pressure (p<0.05) and heart rate (p<0.05) decreased in obese patients given sibutramine, but increased significantly in the placebo group. Recently developed valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension were not identified by echocardiography in sibutramine group or placebo group during treatment. In conclusion, we observed that low-calorie diet and 10 mg/day sibutramine use were more effective than placebo in weight loss. However, when we compared the amount of weight loss we could not observe any significant difference. Moreover we concluded that sibutramine affected lipid parameters favorably, was not associated with very important complications that could lead to discontinuation and did not have any negative effect on heart valves.