Effects of sibutramine on binge eating, hunger, and fullness in a laboratory human feeding paradigm

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sibutramine vs. placebo on binge-eating behavior, hunger, and satiety in patients who had problems with binge eating. Research Methods and Procedures: Seven adult subjects who had problems with binge eating (mean age, 42 years) were randomly assigned to receive alternating sibutramine and placebo in a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study. This involved two 4-week dosing periods separated by a 2-week washout. Results: Subjects lost weight on sibutramine but not on placebo. There was a significant difference in the number of kilocalories consumed between the sibutramine and placebo conditions, with a significant reduction of intake during binge-eating episodes on sibutramine. Discussion: Sibutramine suppresses intake during binge-eating episodes. This effect is demonstrable in a human feeding laboratory paradigm.