Results of a support programme for treatment of overweight and obese patients with orlistat

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity are reaching epidemic proportions, and a variety of therapeutic countermeasures is needed. This article describes a support programme for orlistat. Methods: Physicians who prescribed orlistat could refer their patients to a support programme provided by the manufacturer. A clinical nutritionist evaluated the patient’s diet and gave advice and motivational support during approximately seven telephone consultations a year. Design: A cohort study. Results: Of 3526 patients (81.5% women and 18.5% men) whose first contact with the nutritionist was recorded between April 2001 and July 2004, 3023 had at least one follow-up consultation. The mean initial body mass index (BMI) was 33.7 (SD 9.0). Of men and women, 90% and 80%, respectively, met the Norwegian Pharmaceutical Product Compendium criteria for orlistat. The remaining patients had a BMI that was too low or no reported risk factors. Of the 2456 patients who reported their weight at two or more consultations, 70% achieved a <;5% weight loss. Patients who took part in the programme for 4.5 months or more, and reported their weight at two or more consultations (n=1891, 62.5%), had a mean weight reduction of 9.1% (95% confidence interval 7.8 to 10.4%) of the initial weight. Conclusion: The combination of telephone advice provided by a clinical nutritionist and orlistat had a clinically significant effect among over two-thirds of patients who reported their weight. Use of orlistat largely followed medical recommendations with regard to the target population. Keywords: cardiovascular risk factors; dietary therapy; nutritionist, obesity; orlistat; overweight; support programme