Antiobesity drugs plus behavioural treatment induces more weight loss than medication alone

Oral antiobesity medications (AOMs) combined with behavioural treatment via telemedicine induces greater weight loss than medications alone, a study has shown.

“Guidelines recommend pairing AOMs with behavioural treatment,” the investigators said. “This 12-week, two-arm randomized controlled trial evaluated oral AOMs with vs without behavioural treatment.”

A total of 101 patients eligible for bupropion and naltrexone from a telehealth weight management clinic were enrolled in this study. Eligible participants were randomly allocated to receive bupropion and naltrexone (n=50) or bupropion and naltrexone with behavioural treatment (WeightWatchers; n=51).

Remote measurements of body weight, behavioural, and psychosocial measures were completed at baseline and week 12. Twelve-week change in weight was the primary outcome. The investigators used ANCOVA to assess between-group differences in changes.

Most of the participants were female (94.1 percent), with a mean age of 43.9 years and a mean BMI of 37.0 kg/m². Those who received behavioural treatment achieved a significantly greater weight loss at week 12 than those who did not (absolute weight: mean difference ‒1.8 kg; p=0.03; percent weight: mean difference ‒1.6 percent; p=0.04).

These findings support current recommendations to pair AOMs with behavioural treatment, according to the investigators.