Which obesity weight loss medication is a pancreatic lipase inhibitor?

• A. Orlistat
• B. Metformin
• C. Sibutramine
• D. Liraglutide

Answer: (A)

Pancreatic lipase inhibition reduces fat digestion in the gut, so a smaller portion of dietary fat is absorbed and more is excreted. Orlistat does exactly this by blocking pancreatic lipase in the intestinal lumen, leading to decreased fat absorption and modest weight loss. It acts locally in the GI tract and does not suppress appetite through central mechanisms, which is why it differs from medications that reduce hunger or alter glucose metabolism. Common side effects reflect undigested fat and include oily stools, flatulence with discharge, and fecal urgency; there’s also potential for fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies, so taking a multivitamin separately from meals containing fat is advised. Use of orlistat requires taking it with meals that contain fat, and skipping a meal or eating a fat-free meal allows skipping the dose. The other drugs function through metabolic or central appetite pathways (for example, metabolic improvements or appetite suppression) rather than by inhibiting intestinal fat digestion.