Authors' objectives:

To provide guidance on the use of orlistat for the treatment of obesity in adults.

Authors' recommendations: Guidance: 1.1 Orlistat should only be prescribed for people who have lost at least 2.5kg in weight by dietary control and increased physical activity alone in the month prior to the first prescription and meet one of the following criteria: 1.1.1 a body mass index (BMI) of 28 kg/m2 or more in the presence of significant co-morbidities which persist despite standard treatment (e.g. Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and/or high total cholesterol level). 1.1.2 a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more with no associated co-morbidities. Orlistat should only be prescribed for people between the ages of 18 and 75 years. 1.2 When treatment with orlistat is offered, arrangements should be made for appropriate health professionals to offer specific concomitant advice, support and counselling on diet, physical activity and behavioural strategies. 1.3 Continuation of this therapy beyond three months should be supported by evidence of a loss of at least a further 5% of body weight from the start of drug treatment. 1.4 Continuation of this therapy beyond six months should be supported by evidence of a cumulative weight loss of at least 10% of body weight from the start of drug treatment. 1.5 Treatment should not usually be continued beyond 12 months, and never beyond 24 months.

Authors' methods: Systematic review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.nice.org.uk/cat.asp?c=15712

Year Published: 2001

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: National Institute for Clinical Excellence

Contact Address: MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6NA, UK. Tel: +44 020 7067 5800; Fax: +44 020 7067 5801

Contact Name: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Contact Email: nice@nice.nhs.uk

Copyright: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)