Nong and colleagues have published a systematic review and meta-analysis in the BMJ which compares benefits and adverse effects of drugs used in the management of obesity. Newer drugs showed significant weight loss with good quality evidence whilst some emerging drugs were supported by lower levels of evidence. Greater efficacy was directly proportional to a higher incidence of adverse events and therapy discontinuation. None of the drugs under consideration produced significant improvements on quality-of-life scores after one year. In the rapidly evolving weight loss arena, studies such as these help to add to overall knowledge of benefits, harms, effects on all-cause mortality and improvements in patient quality of life. 

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