Testosterone Therapy Injections For Weight Loss?

Can testosterone therapy provide a remedy for the runaway obesity epidemic in the U.S. and elsewhere? A new study suggests that it may help men with low testosterone get rid of those excess pounds.

According to the findings, obese men who received testosterone therapy via injection apparently lost an average of 35 pounds during the clinical trial. Their BMI also decreased from 34 to 29 (“upgrading” them from obese to merely overweight) and also experienced improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lower blood pressure

It should be noted that the study was underwritten by drug giant Bayer, which manufactures testosterone supplements.

Several hundred obese men in the study (some of whom were followed for two years and others for five) received 1,000 milligrams of the male sex hormone to restore their testosterone to normal levels at the beginning of the research, six weeks later, and then every three months until the end of the trial.

Obesity,  type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure have been linked to low testosterone levels.

As reported by U.S. News & World Report, the study authors contend that “Increased testosterone improves energy and motivation to do physical activity; testosterone also increases lean body mass, which increases the amount of energy used.”

But U.S. News also points that the findings may only be indirectly the result of testosterone therapy itself: “Rather, it could be that men undergoing the hormone therapy feel better and stronger so they exercise more and watch their diet, speculated experts not involved with the study.”

In fact, several endocrinologists maintain that it is way too early to tell if testosterone can help people slim down significantly.

The data in this testosterone therapy study was presented this week in Lyon, France, at at the European Congress on Obesity.  It is not yet been published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Do you think there is an inherent conflict of interest when Big Pharma commissions a study that validates their products?