Orlistat for the treatment of obesity

Development and Evaluation Committee
Record ID 32000008151
English
Authors' objectives:

To summarise the available evidence on the use of Orlistat for the treatment of obesity.

Authors' recommendations: There is good evidence from RCTs that Orlistat promotes weight reduction for some people in the short term. However, the published results do not coincide with the licensed indication and so their relevance is limited. The Committee noted that discontinuation of Orlistat treatment (in conjunction with a switch to a eucaloric diet) resulted in a weight regain. In addition, while the trials provide two-year outcome information, there is no evidence of the longer term benefits or disbenefits of continued treatment with Orlistat and treatment beyond two years is currently unlicensed. It was also noted that the base-case utility estimates seemed to be based on a generous assumption about the QALY gain associated with a 10% loss in initial body weight. The proposal for the use of Orlistat, and therefore the cost calculations, were based on the assumption that it would be prescribed in secondary care. The costs would vary if it were prescribed and monitored in a primary care setting.
Authors' methods: Overview
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.wihrd.soton.ac.uk
Year Published: 1999
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: England
MeSH Terms
  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Weight Loss
  • Obesity
Contact
Organisation Name: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development
Contact Address: Pauline King. Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development, Boldrewood Medical School, Bassett Crescent East, Highfield, Southampton. SO16 7PX Tel. +44 1703 595661 Fax +44 1703 595662
Copyright: Wessex Institute for Health Research and Development (WIHRD)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.