Press Release

HONG KONG, January 28 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study that used state of the art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)technology reveals that taking alli(R) (orlistat 60 mg) while following areduced calorie, lower-fat diet can lead to a significant reduction not onlyin weight but also in dangerous visceral fat.(1) Visceral fat surrounds thevital organs in the abdomen and, in excess, increases the risk of lifethreatening diseases.(2)

The research, carried out over three months at Europe's largest imagingcentre, illustrates the changes taking place inside someone's body as theytake alli plus diet. It supports that overweight adults (with a BMI of 28or over) using alli in conjunction with a reduced calorie, lower-fat dietcan not only lose 5 per cent of their body weight but importantly, 10 percent of dangerous visceral fat versus baseline.(1) Results also showed that at week 12 waist circumference, the best practical marker for visceral fat,could also be significantly reduced.(1)

These latest findings, when considered with existing data, suggest thatadding alli to diet not only helps overweight adults lose 50 per cent moreweight than dieting alone, but this weight loss also helps improve health.For every two pounds they lose through their own efforts, adding alli canhelp them lose one more.

Rexford Newbould, GSK study investigator said: "While it's well-knownthat overall weight loss of 5-10 per cent is beneficial, what is not sowell-known is that many of the health benefits occur because visceral fat,the fat stored deep within the abdomen, is lost. This new research shows thatwhen people lose weight using orlistat 60 mg in conjunction with diet, theylose visceral fat."

The real burden - visceral fat

Visceral fat is metabolically active fat which, in excess, can increasethe risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, twoof the leading causes of death worldwide.(3) It is these health complicationsthat have a big impact on the personal and public burden of the obesityepidemic.

James Hallatt, General Manager GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare UK,says, "These results show that by losing weight with alli plus diet,people can not only look better on the outside, they can be healthier on theinside too. We know that most people lose weight to look better on theoutside, but losing excess fat on the inside is just as important."

Waistline and cholesterol reductions

Not only has adding alli to diet been shown to significantly reduceweight compared with dieting alone, but it also reduces waist size.Additional data presented today show that alli was significantly moreeffective than placebo in reducing waist size, with an average loss of 4.5 cm(1.8 inches), over 6 months of treatment.(4) Levels of total and LDLcholesterol were also significantly lower in those people taking allicompared with placebo.(5)

Leading UK obesity expert, Professor David Haslam of the National ObesityForum, comments, "The size of your waistline is a good way to tell if youhave excess visceral fat. People who have too much weight around their middlehave a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease thanthose who carry weight around the hips. Losing weight - and specificallyvisceral fat - can help reduce the likelihood of serious health problems."

The MRI study follows a recent report in which leading obesity expertscalled for greater public awareness of visceral fat. It included results froma European survey of over 12,000 people which showed that 88 per cent of themdo not know what visceral fat is but, after hearing about the associatedrisks, 61 per cent said they were more motivated to lose weight.(6)

Notes to editors

alli is a non-prescription weight loss aid, containing orlistat 60 mg,for overweight adults (18 years or over) with a body mass index (BMI) of 28or more. It should be used with a reduced calorie, lower fat diet. Alwaysread the label.

Also presented at the Congress were the results from a six-month,placebo-controlled study on the effect of alli on visceral fat. The studyincluded people with a BMI of 25 or over, in line with alli's US licence. InEurope, alli is licensed for people with a BMI of 28 or over. For the groupwho had a BMI of 28 or more, there was a trend in favour of alli but thestudy wasn't designed to show a statistical significance in this group.

Professor David Haslam is a paid consultant for GSK, but the opinionsexpressed here are his own.

Waist measurements

Men are at increased health risk if they have a waist circumference of 94cm or more. Women are at increased health risk if they have a waistcircumference of 80 cm or more.(7)

References:

1. Beaver J et al. Orlistat 60 mg in conjunction with diet providessignificant reduction in visceral adipose tissue, Poster presented at the 1stInternational Congress on Abdominal Obesity, 28 January 2010, Hong Kong.

2. World Health Organisation. Challenges of Obesity of the WHO EuropeanRegion. Strategies for response. 2007

3. World Health Organisation. Fact Sheet - The top ten causes of death.http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310_2008.pdf. Lastaccessed 19.01.10.

4. Savastano D et al. Orlistat 60 mg provides significant reductions inbody weight and waist circumference. Poster presented at the 1stInternational Congress on Abdominal Obesity, 28 January 2010, Hong Kong.

5. Schwartz S et al. Orlistat 60 mg provides significant reductions intotal and LDL cholesterol, independent of weight loss. Poster presented atthe 1st International Congress on Abdominal Obesity, 28 January 2010, HongKong.

6. ICM Research interviewed a sample of 12,161 adults aged 30-59 yearsold who want to lose weight, across 21 European markets using a mixedapproach of online and telephone research in October 2009. Respondents werecontacted on a nationally representative basis and qualified for the surveyif they were looking to lose at least 2lbs in weight. ICM is a member of theBritish Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information athttp://www.icmresearch.co.uk

7. Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Practice Guidance:Obesity. 2005.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

- GSK Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counterconsumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brandsinclude Panadol(R), Aquafresh(R) and Sensodyne(R).

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

Under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that may affect GSK's operations are described under 'Risk Factors' in the 'Business Review' in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2007.

Last updated on: 27/08/2010 11:40:18