Treatment of Obesity and Binge Eating: Behavioral Weight Loss Versus Stepped Care

Treatment of Obesity and Binge Eating: Behavioral Weight Loss Versus Stepped Care

This controlled study will test the effectiveness of a stepped-care approach to a standard behavioral weight loss treatment for obese patients with Binge Eating Disorder (BED). The major question is whether the stepped-care approach, which begins with behavioral weight loss and then follows a decision tree for additional interventions based on early treatment response is superior to standard behavioral treatment.

The stepped-care arm of this study included an obesity medication intervention. At the start of the study, the active medication was sibutramine and was compared to a placebo control. On 10/8/2010, Abbott Laboratories withdrew their obesity drug sibutramine (Meridia) from the market in light of clinical trial data pointing to an increased risk for stroke and myocardial infarction. In response to this event, the investigators submitted an IRB amendment to change the active obesity medication from sibutramine to Orlistat. The IRB amendment was approved on 11/4/2010. The PI received approval from NIH/NIDDK Program Officer Robert Kuczmarski to enact this change.

Inclusion criteria:

• Obese (BMI>=30)

Exclusion criteria:

• Medication regimen that represents medical contraindication to sibutramine
• Serious unstable or uncontrolled medical conditions that represent contraindication to sibutramine
• Pregnancy