ANTI-OBESITY PHARMACOTHERAPY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR PREVENTING PROGRESSION FROM PREDIABETES TO TYPE 2 DIABETES

Objective: Type 2 diabetes and its associated complications place heavy burdens on affected individuals, their caregivers, and society. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. Attempts to combat this problem have been extended to the treatment of obesity and prevention of progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. As such, weight loss is an important component of type 2 diabetes prevention. However, successful strategies for achieving sustained weight loss have remained elusive. Although lifestyle modification remains a cornerstone of this approach, it has become clear that changes to lifestyle alone will not suffice for many patients. A pragmatic approach includes consideration of pharmacotherapeutic options. Methods: This review discusses the different pharmacotherapeutic options for the treatment of obesity and prediabetes. Results: Approved anti-obesity therapies and antihyperglycemic agents associated with weight loss may prove effective earlier in the treatment paradigm, and other promising agents that are in clinical development for chronic weight management show promise for both weight reduction and a reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes in high-risk individuals. Conclusion: Long-term evaluation of safety and efficacy is required for many of these agents before we can begin to optimize their use in clinical practice, but treatment choices for obese or prediabetic patients are increasing.