A concise review on the therapeutics of obesity

Drugs to treat obesity can be divided into three groups: those that reduce food intake; those that alter metabolism; and those that increase thermogen esis. Monoamines acting on noradrenergic receptors, serotonin receptors, do pamine receptors, and histamine receptors can reduce food intake. A number of peptides also affect food intake. The noradrenergic drugs phentermine, d iethylpropion, mazindol, benzphetamine, and phendimetrazine are approved on ly for short-term use. Sibutramine, a norepinephrine-serotonin reuptake inh ibitor, is approved for long-term use. Orlistat inhibits pancreatic Lipase and can block 30% of the triacylglycerol hydrolysis in subjects eating a 30 % fat diet. The only thermogenic drug combination that has been tested is e phedrine and caffeine, but this treatment has not been approved by regulato ry agencies. In clinical trials other drugs that may modulate peptide-feedi ng systems are being developed. Nutrition 2000;16:953-960. (C) Elsevier Sci ence Inc. 2000.