A recent study of obese people suggests that an anti-obesity drug called sibutramine (Meridia) can help people who have binge eating problems. Researchers at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, studied 60 obese patients with binge eating disorder for a period of 12 weeks. Participants were given either the active drug or an inactive placebo. Results showed that the number of binge days per week decreased from about four to two in participants given the active drug, while in the placebo group the number of binge days remained the same. Those given the drug also lost weight, while those given the placebo actually gained weight. The authors concluded that sibutramine appears to be a “promising agent” for the treatment of obese patients with binge eating problems. Sibutramine works by making people feel full earlier than they would normally, thus stopping them eating sooner.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 11th November 2003.
