American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 19, 158-162, Copyright © 1966 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Obesity in Diabetes

Some Considerations on Treatment

¹ From St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, England

The effect on weight loss of regularity and frequency of attendance at a diabetic clinic over a period of six months was studied in fifty obese diabetic patients. In addition, a double-blind controlled trial of long-acting, intermittently administered diethylpropion (Tenuate Dospan) was undertaken.

Forty patients completed the trial, the mean total weight loss achieved by these patients was 11.7 pounds. Twenty-three patients who had attended the clinic intermittently before this investigation had significantly greater weight losses when they attended regularly. There was no significant difference in the weight loss achieved by those attending every three weeks when compared to the weight loss achieved by those attending every five weeks. Diethylpropion was more effective than placebo in helping obese diabetic patients to lose weight during the periods when tablets were taken. However, during the periods when tablets were not taken the patients who had been given the placebo continued to lose weight whereas those who had been given diethylpropion did not. Thus there was a marked difference in the overall pattern of weight loss between the two groups.

These findings are discussed and some suggestions for treatment made.