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Effects of orlistat on body mass index and serum lipids in overweight and obese adolescents: a meta-analysis

  • Lingnan Zhang , Chang Meng , Fang Zhang , Xinwei Jia , Junmin Xie , Yeran Zhu , Xiaozhe Zhou EMAIL logo and Peng Liu EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: December 10, 2024
Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
From the journal Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Volume 38 Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives

We performed a meta-analysis to compare the effects of orlistat on body mass index and serum lipids in overweight and obese adolescents.

Methods

The meta-analysis was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to 1 August 2024. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched. The outcome measures body mass index (BMI) and serum lipids, such as total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The review of publications was conducted in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Project for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA).

Results

This study has been registered with INPLASY (number INPLASY202480052). A total of 696 patients were included in five randomized controlled trials. The orlistat group reduced BMI compared to placebo in the short term (MD=−0.73, 95 % CI: −1.44 to −0.02, p=0.04, I2=73 %) but appeared to have little effect in the long term (MD=−1.72, 95%CI: −3.55 to 0.12, p=0.07, I2=84 %). The exciting thing is that orlistat can significantly improve blood lipid levels in children, TC (MD=−8.11, 95 % CI: −10.88 to −5.33, p<0.05, I2=0 %), TG (MD=−3.22, 95 % CI: −5.58 to −0.86, p<0.05, I2=0 %), LDL (MD=−6.06, 95 % CI: −8.75 to −3.37, p<0.05, I2=0 %), and HDL (MD=0.87, 95 % CI: 0.13–1.61, p<0.05, I2=31 %).

Conclusions

Orlistat has been linked to alter lipid levels in obese or overweight children. However, the evidence regarding its efficacy in reducing BMI is inconclusive, with inconsistent findings across short and long-term studies. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary to ascertain its long-term impact on prognosis.

Keywords: orlistat; obese; adolescents
Corresponding authors: Xiaozhe Zhou, Department of orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, Heibei, China, E-mail: ; and Peng Liu, Department of Cardiology, Ordos Central Hospital, Ordos School of Clinical Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University, 23 Yijinhuoluo West Street, Dongsheng District, 017000, Ordos, China, E-mail:
Lingnan Zhang and Chang Meng have contributed equally to this work.

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: A comprehensive review of the scientific literature was conducted by L-NZ, CM, and FZ, who collaborated on the manuscript. X-WJ and J-MX provided assistance in the organization of the data. Y-RZ is utilized for the processing of data and the generation of visual representations. X-ZZ and PL have made significant contributions to the conceptualization, design, interpretation of data, revision of manuscripts pertaining to key intellectual content, and supervision of research. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: None declared.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2024-0429)

Received: 2024-08-10
Accepted: 2024-11-22
Published Online: 2024-12-10
Published in Print: 2025-02-25

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Articles
  3. Effects of orlistat on body mass index and serum lipids in overweight and obese adolescents: a meta-analysis
  4. Psychological and behavioral assessments in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty
  5. The effect of phlebotomy and placement of an intravenous catheter on plasma catecholamine and serum copeptin concentrations
  6. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children with diverse adrenal pathologies: the impact of pre-operative imaging in decision making process
  7. Short- to medium-term follow-up of normoponderal children and adolescents with subclinical hypothyroidism: a retrospective study of the last 15 years
  8. Newborn screening follow-up in Bavaria: height and weight in paediatric patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  9. Patterns and determinants of serum amylase, lipase concentrations in Indian adolescents and youth with type 1 diabetes
  10. Pediatric Graves’ disease in Argentina: analyzing treatment strategies and outcomes
  11. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus results from a novel in-frame deletion of AVPR2 gene in monozygotic-twin boys and their mother and grandmother
  12. Short Communication
  13. Does clonidine stimulate copeptin in children?
  14. Case Report and Review of the Literature
  15. Sialidosis type 1 in a Turkish family: a case report and review of literatures
  16. Case Reports
  17. Central precocious puberty in a toddler with hypothalamic hamartoma
  18. Autosomally dominantly inherited isolated gonadotropin deficiency via maternal assisted reproduction due to SOX10 mutation
  19. Unclear symptoms, early diagnosis and perfect outcome: a case diagnosed as sepiapterin reductase deficiency hidden behind vitamin B12 deficiency
https://doi.org/10.1515/jpem-2024-0429
Keywords for this article
orlistat; obese; adolescents

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Original Articles
  3. Effects of orlistat on body mass index and serum lipids in overweight and obese adolescents: a meta-analysis
  4. Psychological and behavioral assessments in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty
  5. The effect of phlebotomy and placement of an intravenous catheter on plasma catecholamine and serum copeptin concentrations
  6. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy in children with diverse adrenal pathologies: the impact of pre-operative imaging in decision making process
  7. Short- to medium-term follow-up of normoponderal children and adolescents with subclinical hypothyroidism: a retrospective study of the last 15 years
  8. Newborn screening follow-up in Bavaria: height and weight in paediatric patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
  9. Patterns and determinants of serum amylase, lipase concentrations in Indian adolescents and youth with type 1 diabetes
  10. Pediatric Graves’ disease in Argentina: analyzing treatment strategies and outcomes
  11. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus results from a novel in-frame deletion of AVPR2 gene in monozygotic-twin boys and their mother and grandmother
  12. Short Communication
  13. Does clonidine stimulate copeptin in children?
  14. Case Report and Review of the Literature
  15. Sialidosis type 1 in a Turkish family: a case report and review of literatures
  16. Case Reports
  17. Central precocious puberty in a toddler with hypothalamic hamartoma
  18. Autosomally dominantly inherited isolated gonadotropin deficiency via maternal assisted reproduction due to SOX10 mutation
  19. Unclear symptoms, early diagnosis and perfect outcome: a case diagnosed as sepiapterin reductase deficiency hidden behind vitamin B12 deficiency
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