[Comparative trial on the effects of diet, mazindol, and placebo in the treatment of exogenous obesity (author's transl)].

In a single blind study 25 out patients with exogenous obesity were treated for 6 weeks with Mazindol (2 mg one hour before lunch). The active treatment period was followed by a placebo period of 4 weeks. 9 out of 25 patients (group I) were asked to stick to a diet of 1000 cal daily for 14 days before entering the active treatment period. The rest of the patients (group II) were asked to start with this diet when entering the treatment period. There was practically no weight reduction during the initial 2 weeks on diet alone in group I. In both groups on Mazindol there was a significant weight reduction beginning after one week with a maximum weight loss of 4,1 and 5,1 kg respectively at the end of the active treatment period (2p less than 0,001). After the first week of the following placebo period there was an increase in weight in both groups (2p less than 0,01). During both treatment periods no changes in clinical (including) ergometric investigations) and laboratory findings were observed. However from these results no conclusions can be drawn regarding cardiopulmonary tolerance and abuse potential. In a few cases mild side effects related to the CNS have been found.