In the present study the therapeutic efficacy of Sibutramine therapy was compared with Metformin, Acarbose and Lifestyle Modifications treatments, to assess the therapeutic efficacy and to monitor the safety of off label prescription drugs (Metformin and Acarbose), the differences in the parameters, Body Weight (Kg), Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Blood Pressure (B.P) from baseline were studied and compared between four treatments. The study involved 81 women and 39 men, 18 to 55 years of age, each of whom had a body-mass index of 30 to 40. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive one of the four treatments from month one to four and their results were compared between baseline values. The results of the study indicated that the subjects on Sibutramine therapy showed maximum weight loss within three months when compared with subjects treated with Metformin, Acarbose and Lifestyle Modifications. It was also observed that the non-diabetic obese subjects treated with Metformin and Acarbose had significant weight reduction. Lifestyle Modifications results were poor, hence the patients often regaining most of the weight initially lost. All the treatments were well tolerated. Further research is needed to identify effective methods of providing lifestyle counseling in primary care and community settings and to establish new cost effective anti-obesity drugs.
KEY WORDS: Obesity, Sibutramine, Metformin, Lifestyle Modifications, Acarbose