Efficacy of rimonabant in obese patients with binge eating disorder

In obesity, a dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system has been shown. The endocannabinoid receptor blockage by rimonabant demonstrated interesting metabolic effects. However, the role of rimonabant in weight loss of patients with binge eating disorder has not been investigated. Thus, our aim was to evaluate the effects of rimonabant on body weight in obese patients with binge eating disorders. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study included 289 obese subjects (age 18-70 years, body mass index 30-45 kg/m(2)) with binge eating disorders. Subjects were randomized (1:1) to receive rimonabant 20 mg/day or placebo for 6 months. In total, 289 participants (age: 43.2±10.5 yrs, 91% of women) were randomized. The completer rate was similar (71%) in both treatment and placebo groups. Participants treated with rimonabant lost 4.7±5.2% of their initial body weight, vs. 0.4±4.5% in the placebo group (difference between both groups: 4.4±0.6 kg, p<0.0001). The rimonabant group showed a greater reduction on the binge eating scale total score (mean±SD  - 40.9±35.2%) vs. placebo ( - 29.9±34.6%, p=0.02). The incidence of treatment emergent adverse events was comparable in both the rimonabant (82.5%) and placebo (76.0%) group. Discontinuations due to treatment emergent adverse events occurred in 13.3% rimonabant-treated vs. 6.2% placebo-treated participants. In conclusion, this is the only randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial having assessed the effect of rimonabant in patients with binge eating disorders. The rimonabant treatment reduced body weight significantly more than placebo in obese subjects with binge eating. Trial registration number (clinicaltrials.gov): NCT00481975.