Clinical Trials of Effective Treatments for Weight Loss
| Treatment | Reference Citation | Selection Criteria/Sample Size | Duration | Design | Outcome | NNT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietary (nutritionists LCD) | 34 | 155 men, age 30 to 59 120% to 160% of IBW | 1 year | RCT | Decrease of 8 lb of fat weight (∼10 lb total weight) | 9 |
| Exercise (treadmill 30 minutes ∼3 to 5days/week) | 34 | 155 men, age 30 to 59 120% to 160% of IBW | 1 year | RCT | Decrease of 8 lb of fat weight (∼10 lb total weight) | 17 |
| Combination of Diet and Exercise | 65 | 165 M/F, ≥31 lb overweight, ages 25 to 45 | 2 years | RCT | Decrease 10 lb of total weight | 7 |
| Behavior (psychologists) | 78 | 59 M/F, community volunteers >55 lb overweight | 1 year | RCT | Mean weight loss 21 lb at 1 year | Unable to Calculate |
| Drug sibutramine (and diet) vs diet only 1 year) 10 and 15 mg | 45 | 485 M/F, mean BMI 32.7, ages 27 to 40 | 1 year | RCT double-blind/placebo | Decrease 10% or more of body weight | 8, 4 |
| Drug orlistat 120 mg | 39 | 399 M/F, age >18, BMI 28 to 40, with DM | 1 year | RCT double-blind/placebo | Decrease ≥5% of body weight | 4 |
| Surgery gastroplasty | 71 | 57 M/F ages, BMI versus VLCD | 5 year | RCT | Maintained weight loss of ≥22 lb | 8 |
| Surgery gastric bypass/gastroplasty | 72 | 310 M/F, ages 18 to 62, weight 160% to 318% >IBW, gastric bypass/gastroplasty | 3 years | RCT | Loss of >50% excess weight | 2, 3 |
LCD, low-calorie diet; IBW, ideal body weight; BMI, body mass index; M/F, men and women; DM, diabetes mellitus; RCT, randomized controlled trial; VLCD, very-low calorie diet; NNT, number needed to treat.