Treatment of refractory obesity with fenfluramine.

• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5514.624
• Publication Date: 2009-04-02T11:02:10Z
• Authors: J. F. Munro; D. A. Seaton; L. J. Duncan
• Keywords: Adult; Diarrhea; Placebos; 2. Zero hunger; Clinical Trials as Topic; Appetite Depressants; Fenfluramine; Humans; Female; Obesity; Middle Aged; Aged; 3. Good health

The 60 women who started the trial were mostly middle aged housewives, none of whom had oedema or were known to have any cardiac disorder. All were clinically obese, over weight by at least 20% of their standard (U.S.A. Medico Actuarial Investigation, 1912), and had "refractory obesity" as previously defined (Duncan et al., 1960). Thus they had regularly attended the Diabetic and Dietetic Department during the previous year for dietetic advice and supervision, but had not lost weight appreciably in the three months before the study or taken any anorectic drug in the previous six months. The patients were matched by age, standard weight, and excess weight to form two comparable groups. By chance 25 subjects in each group completed the study, and Table I sets out their relevant data.