RESEARCH PAPER Use of sibutramine to assist obese women with weight loss can be successful in dietitian-led clinics: another tool in the dietitian’s toolbox R. Barratt,* G. Frost, A. O’Boyle,* J. Millward* & H. Truby* *Faculty of Health Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK;  Centre for Investigative Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK Ó 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation. 248 Ó 2008 The British Dietetic Association Ltd 2008 J Hum Nutr Diet, 21, pp. 248–255 Correspondence Helen Truby, The Children’s Nutrition Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia. Tel.: +617 3636 9271 Fax: +617 3346 4684 E-mail: h.truby@uq.edu.au Present address: Rachel Barratt, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Keywords obesity, sibutramine, Type 2 diabetes, weight loss. Abstract Background This study investigated differences in weight loss outcomes in obese women with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to those without T2D attending a 6-month dietetic led ‘Lifestyle’ inter- vention. In those who had failed to reach weight loss goals using the ‘Lifestyle’ approach, the study further examined the effect on weight loss with the addition of sibutramine (Reductil Ò , Abbott Laborato- ries, USA) over a 6-month period. Methods The study comprised a case–control analysis of data from 38 obese female patients (18 with T2D) from the ‘Lifestyle’ and ‘Pharmacotherapy’ clinics attending a tertiary hospital in the UK. Results In the ‘Lifestyle’ treatment groups, those with T2D lost significantly less body weight than those without T2D [5.26 kg (4.54%) versus 9.89 kg (9.55%), respectively]. For subjects who had failed to lose weight via the ‘Lifestyle’ intervention, the addition of sibutramine resulted in a similar weight loss compared to their pair- matched ‘Lifestyle’ only ‘successful’ counterparts (9.66% versus 9.55%). Conclusions Not all obese women, and those with T2D in partic- ular, will derive benefit from ‘Lifestyle’ advice and those who are resistant to this treatment approach may be assisted by pharmaco- therapy. Dietitians can play a role in identifying those individuals who may benefit from the use of pharmacotherapy. The Official Journal of The British Dietetic Association Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics