Barriers to Treating Obesity
Authors: Jules Hirsch
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1991)

Letters15 October 1991Barriers to Treating ObesityJules Hirsch, MDJules Hirsch, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-115-8-656_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editors: Dr. Bray's editorial (1) elucidates some of the important barriers to treating obesity. As stated, "the public perception that obesity is a disease resulting from a lack of will power" is a major barrier to the treatment of a disease with fundamental genetic, molecular determinants. "Limited research funding" is surely another barrier. However, I am concerned about Dr. Bray's wish to lower barriers to the use of appetite-suppressant drugs.I do not find "clear and convincing evidence that modern appetite-suppressant drugs are effective and safe." Fenfluramine, one of the drugs cited, has been shown to have potentially...References1. Bray G. Barriers to the treatment of obesity [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:152-3. LinkGoogle Scholar2. McMurrayBloomfieldMiller JPH. Irreversible pulmonary hypertension after treatment with fenfluramine. Br Med J. 1986;292:239-40. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. DouglasMunroKitchinMuirProudfoot JJAAA. Pulmonary hypertension and fenfluramine. Br Med J. 1981;283:881-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. PouwelsSmeetsCheriexWouters HJEE. Pulmonary hypertension and fenfluramine. Eur Respir J. 1990;3:606-7. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Guy-GrandCrepaldiLefebvreApfelbaumGriesTurner BGPMAP. International trial of long-term dexfenfluramine in obesity. Lancet. 1989;1:1142-5. CrossrefGoogle Scholar1. Bray G. Barriers to the treatment of obesity. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:152-3. LinkGoogle Scholar2. WeintraubBray MG. Drug treatment of obesity. Med Clin N Am. 1989;73:237. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. CraigheadStunkardO'Brien LAR. Behavior therapy and pharmacotherapy for obesity. Arch Gen Psychiat. 1981;38:763-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Fitzgerald F. The problem of obesity. Ann Rev Med. 1981;32:221-31. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. KaymanBruvoldStern SWJ. Maintenance and relapse after weight loss in women: behavioral aspects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;52:800-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. Bray G. Barriers to the treatment of obesity [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1991;115:152-3. LinkGoogle Scholar2. WeintraubFundaresanSchusterGinsbergMadanStein MPBGME. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute long-term weight control study: I-VII. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1991; in press. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Stunkard A. Anorectic agents lower body weight set point. Life Sciences. 1982;39:2043-55. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. Bray G. Classification and evaluation of the obesities. Med Clin North Am. 1989;73:161-84. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: The Rockefeller University New York, NY 10021 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByCentral nervous system stimulants and drugs which suppress appetite 15 October 1991Volume 115, Issue 8Page: 656-657KeywordsDrugsGenetic determinismGenetic diseasesMolecular biologyObesityPerceptionResearch funding Issue Published: 15 October 1991 PDF DownloadLoading ...