Pharmacotherapy for Obesity — Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

An association between appetite-suppressant drugs and primary pulmonary hypertension is reported by Abenhaim et al. in this issue of the Journal . 1 This important finding requires careful assessment, because the prevalence of obesity is increasing and sustained weight reduction has been difficult t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 335; no. 9; pp. 659 - 660
Main Authors Manson, JoAnn E, Faich, Gerald A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Massachusetts Medical Society 29.08.1996
Subjects
Appetite Depressants - adverse effects
Appetite Depressants - therapeutic use
Fenfluramine - adverse effects
Fenfluramine - therapeutic use
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary - chemically induced
Obesity - drug therapy
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Summary:An association between appetite-suppressant drugs and primary pulmonary hypertension is reported by Abenhaim et al. in this issue of the Journal . 1 This important finding requires careful assessment, because the prevalence of obesity is increasing and sustained weight reduction has been difficult to achieve without drug treatment. Moreover, the appetite-suppressant drug dexfenfluramine (Redux) has recently become available in the United States. The current receptive climate for pharmacotherapy reflects a paradigm shift: obesity is now recognized as a chronic disease that requires long-term treatment. Obesity results from a complex interaction of genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. Because exercise, diet, and behavioral . . .
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJM199608293350910