Nabilone for Obesity

Obesity is generally defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m(2). However, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations have proposed defining obesity as a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m(2).

Estimates of the number of obesity cases in the United States range from 8.8 to 18.2 million. This estimate may be an underestimate because of self-reported cases of obesity or a misclassification of obesity.

Obesity is commonly associated with chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes), and it is known that obesity itself may be an independent risk factor for chronic diseases. Nevertheless, the causes and risk factors for obese individuals are still elusive. Possible causes of obesity include genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and a complex interplay between these factors. It is likely that at least partly, different genetic alleles in several individuals or particular environments interact to cause obesity.

At least one in every five patients with epilepsy has been told to lose weight: as many as 25% in some studies. Many medications are only prescribed as a means to reduce seizure severity and reduce the frequency of seizures. A lack of evidence does not necessarily mean that they are ineffective. There are a myriad of other possible reasons for the increase in the use of medications to treat obesity in epileptic patients. However, more research is needed on the topic.

The presence of the following symptoms should alert physicians to the possible presence of obesity: abdominal pain, abdominal distension, enlarged liver and spleen, weight loss, increased waist circumference, and decreased thigh circumference.

Obesity cannot currently be considered a treatable illness. With appropriate treatment, a small but appreciable percentage of the population may improve body mass index and lead to improved overall health.

In contrast to nylbuphine, which caused significantly less euphoria than placebo in a parallel group study with healthy volunteers, there were no clinically meaningful differences in side effects between nabilone and placebo in this study. Thus this data do not support the hypothesis that nabilone causes euphoria. For this reason, it seems safe to take nabilone.

We summarize four new concepts that will affect the development of future innovative non-pharmaceutical treatments for obesity: dieting, gene therapy, stem cells, and lifestyle intervention. We argue that dieting should still be the first-line treatment strategy to decrease body weight for many obese people.

Obesity has become an established medical diagnosis that is now recognized by most of the professional associations in the United States. Clinical trials are being conducted on a variety of drugs to treat and prevent obesity. Physicians, however, are not getting the information they need to fully evaluate the benefits versus the risks as they decide whether to invest time in obesity research.

Results from a recent paper provides evidence of the efficacy of the cannabinoid nabilone and suggests its usefulness as an adjunct therapy in the management of obesity with comorbid conditions.

There is an association of obesity with an increased risk of mortality and an increased likelihood of major complications (diabetic, coronary, stroke, and sleep apnea) after surgical procedures. This association was seen regardless of age, height, BMI, or waist circumference. Obesity is a predictor of long-term mortality and complications after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.