A review of the effects of antihyperglycaemic agents on body weight: the potential of incretin targeted therapies

Abstract

Background: Current American Diabetes Association (ADA)/European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) treatment guidelines recommend metformin (which does not promote weight gain) as the first-line antihyperglycaemic drug for patients with type 2 diabetes. However, when metformin fails, the recommended add-on treatment options (sulphonylureas, glitazones and basal insulin) can lead to significant weight gain. This article reviews the effect on body weight of current treatments for type 2 diabetes and discusses the potential impact of weight gain in this patient group.Scope: MEDLINE searches were performed to evaluate the prevalence and impact of changes in body weight in type 2 diabetes (articles published between January 1966 and August 2006) and the effects of sulphonylureas, glitazones, insulin, dipeptidyl peptidase‑4 (DPP‑4) inhibitors and incretin analogs on body weight in these patients (search between January 2004 and September 2006).Findings: Weight gain in general affects not only...