Study Suggests Diabetes Drug Could Become Weight Loss Tool

Researchers at the University of Liverpool in England have found that the drug liraglutide, which is known in branded form as Victoza, can help the obese lose weight. Dr. John Wilding, the head of the department of obesity and endocrinology at the University of Liverpool and lead researcher, commented on the results of the study. “Liraglutide, an injection treatment already approved for diabetes treatment, can help reduce body weight in people with obesity when used at a higher dose than is usually used in diabetes,” he said. “These results suggest liraglutide is effective and overall well-tolerated for obesity treatment.”

In the study, the researchers found that people who took Victoza lost an average of 8 percent of their body weight over the period of a year. Those who were taking the placebo lost only 2.6 percent of their body weight. The researchers used an increased dosage for their study. While typical doses of Victoza are 1.2 and 1.8 milligrams respectively, patients involved in the study were given doses of 3 milligrams. In addition to the Victoza, study participants were also required to follow a diet that contained 500 fewer calories than a normal diet and to exercise for 30 minutes five days a week.

The study, which involved more than 3,700 obese and overweight patients, did not compare Victoza to other drugs that were designed for the purpose of weight loss. However, Wilding did note that a previous study showed that Victoza could help patients lose twice as much weight than Xenical, a weight loss drug. Xenical works by lowering the amount of fat that the intestines can absorb, while Victoza reduces blood sugar.

Wilding’s team is scheduled to announce the full results of the study and present data at the European Congress on Obesity this upcoming Thursday. It is not yet known if Victoza can replace other weight loss therapies, but Dr. David Katz, the director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center in New Haven Connecticut, said it could be a useful tool. Katz was not involved in the study. While Victoza needs more long term research to determine its full usefulness, Katz stated that it could be a “reasonable addition to lifestyle intervention in some patients.”