Diabetes Injection beats Xenical for weight loss

Here's an interesting new finding for people struggling with their weight, as reported on BBC News (link), and published in the latest issue of the medical journal The Lancet: in a randomized, controlled study, the injectable diabetes treatment Victoza (liraglutide) helped overweight people lose significantly more weight than prescription Xenical, which is one of the leading weight-loss medications. Victoza (liraglutide) is awaiting FDA approval here in the U.S.A.

This is actually an exciting, unexpected finding, and holds promise for treatment of diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity.

In this 20-week European study, 564 individuals with obesity were randomly assigned to one of four Victoza (liraglutide) doses, to placebo, or orlistat. All individuals were given a 500 kcal diet and increased their physical activity throughout the trial.

Participants on Victoza lost significantly more weight than did those on placebo or orlistat. Weight loss increased with the dosage of Victoza, and was 7·2 kg (15.8 lbs) in the high dose group, compared with only 2·8 kg with placebo and 4·1 kg with orlistat. The medication also reduced blood pressure, and reduced the prevalence of prediabetes in the 20 week trial.

If Victoza (liraglutide) does meet FDA criteria, it will be interesting to see whether people will accept the idea of a daily injection for weight loss treatment. With any new drug, it's also very important to fully understand the potential side effect profile, as well.