It also has the only published reports of continuous double-blind treatment for two years in clinical studies. These studies have proven weight loss and, more importantly, maintenance of lost weight for up to two years, as well as the efficacy of Xenical in patients with type II diabetes. Obesity is known to be a significant cause of type II diabetes and the incidence of this disease rises with an increasing severity of obesity and weight gain. Pooled data from clinical trials show that three times as many patients taking Xenical in combination with a mild calorie-reduced diet lost more than 10 per cent of their initial body weight versus diet alone. Two times as many patients lost more than five per cent of their initial body weight compared to diet alone.
Weight loss is seen within two weeks of initiating therapy.
In the second year, when calorie intake was increased and the goal was to maintain lost weight, those patients on placebo regained 63 per cent of their lost weight, versus only a 35 per cent regain for those on Xenical. The authors noted, however, that 34 per cent of patients on Xenical for the full two years maintained a weight loss of more than 10 per cent of initial body weight compared with only 17.5 per cent who received placebo for the full two years. We know that weight loss in this range has a positive impact on obesity-related risk factors such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes and cholesterol abnormalities. What's encouraging is that clinical trials with Xenical have demonstrated this benefit. This is consistent with the emphasis on weight loss as a way to achieve improved health outcomes.