[Anti-diabetic drugs. Weight reduction as a favourable side effect].

The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the last years is mainly attributable to an increase in life expectancy and the high incidence of obesity. Nearly 90% of all type 2 diabetic patients in Germany are overweight or obese. The attributable risk of obesity in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus is approximately 70%. Oral anti-diabetic drugs like sulfonylurea, glinides, and glitazones as well as insulin increase body weight within years by up to 8 kg with damaging side effects on cardiovascular organs. Dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors do not affect body weight and metformin as well as glucagon like peptid 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists decrease it. A reduction in body weight by changes in life style is effective but only a few overweight patients achieve the therapeutic goals. By using anti-diabetic drugs as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-diabetic compounds body weight, glycemic control and other cardiovascular risk factors may be influenced favorably.