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One reason to encourage weight reduction is to favorably influence risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In this industry-sponsored study, researchers enrolled more than 10,000 overweight or obese people with known cardiovascular disease or with type 2 diabetes plus another risk factor. After a 6-week run-in period during which everyone received the weight-loss drug sibutramine (Meridia), those who tolerated it were randomized to receive sibutramine or placebo. All patients received advice on diet and exercise.
During mean follow-up of 3.4 years, average weight reduction was 2 kg more in the sibutramine group than in the placebo group. However, the incidence of the primary endpoint (mainly nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), nonfatal str…