Pharmacotherapy for Obesity — Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

Abstract

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 . . .