[Clinical study of the month. After the storm over central anorectic agents, the "STORM" study of sibutramine].

The results of the "Sibutramine Trial of Obesity Reduction and Maintenance" (STORM) published in the last issue of December 2000 of the Lancet are summarized. This clinical trial (open label for the first 6 months and double blind versus placebo for a further 18 months) demonstrates the positive effect of sibutramine, a new anorectic drug, on long-term weight maintenance after weight loss in obese subjects. The benefit of sibutramine on the cardiovascular risk profile of the obese patient is more particularly discussed.