In this study, the effects of rimonabant, a type 1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist, on abdominal fat distribution was investigated in dogs maintained on a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. After the 16-week treatment period, dogs treated with rimonabant (n=11) lost 2.8% of their body weight (p=0.029) whereas dogs receiving placebo increased their body weight by 6.5% (p<0.001). In the rimonabant group, decreases in food intake were observed at week 2 and week 16 while placebo-treated dogs showed no significant change in food intake during the study. Intra-abdominal (visceral) adipose tissue did not change in the rimonabant group whereas subcutaneous adipose tissue significantly decreased (-19.5%, p<0.001). However, both intra-abdominal and subcutaneous adipose tissue increased in the placebo group. Nonfat tissue remained unchanged in both groups. Finally, there were no associations between weight loss and resting metabolic rate or food intake. These results suggest that rimonabant limits body weight gain when exposed to a high fat diet, possibly through a direct effect on adipose tissue.
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