Obesity Medication, Diet Pills and Weight Loss Products

Truly effective obesity medications have yet to be developed. While prescription medication is available for weight loss, most only produce modest weight loss (between 5 to 25 pounds), and few can be used for longer than a few months. Obesity medications are not the one-stop solution many people hope they will be. Prescription weight loss products must be combined with dietary and lifestyle changes to keep weight off.

 

Furthermore, obesity medications for weight loss are not available to everyone with weight problems. Doctors tend to prescribe them only in cases of severe obesity, or if extra weight is causing health problems. Individuals with a BMI of 30 or greater or those with a BMI of 27 and other health problems are common candidates for obesity medications. Obesity medications are not used for minor weight lose or cosmetic purposes.

By far the most common types of prescription diet pills are the appetite suppressants, a family of obesity medications including Meridia® (sibutramine) and Adipex-P® (phentermine). These obesity medications are recommended for people who are over thirty pounds overweight. Appetite suppressants increase the amount of serotonin and catecholamine in the brain. The two chemicals are responsible for both mood and appetite. At sufficient levels, they reduce hunger and give you a feeling of fullness.

Most appetite suppressants can only be used for short periods: weeks, or sometimes months. Meridia is an exception, and can be prescribed for up to a year. Meridia's safety for use longer than a year has yet to be determined, and claims of serious side effects, including possible heart disease, have been made.

Xenical® (orlistat) is a lipase inhibitor. That is, rather then working on brain chemicals as an appetite suppressant does, the drug blocks the absorption of dietary fat in the intestines. Up to a third of all ingested fat may be blocked. Unfortunately, vitamin and mineral absorption can also be blocked so vitamin and mineral supplements are typically prescribed along with this obesity treatment. Unlike most appetite suppressants, Xenical can be prescribed for up to a year. Xenical is indicated for individuals who need to lose up to thirty percent of their body weight.

Most side effects of this obesity medication involve changes in bowel movements. Urgent bowel movements and the need to use the restroom more frequently are common. Flatulence, orange-colored stools and oily bowel movements are also common. Women may experience irregular menstrual periods. If you experience itching, swelling, breathing problems or fever while on Xenical, call your doctor immediately.

In the absence of effective obesity medications, a staggering range of non-prescription diet pills, herbal weight loss products and dietary supplements have flooded the market. The claims made by these products are only loosely based in scientific research, if at all. Very few have been subjected to clinical trials to determine their effectiveness and safety.

Many such products claim to burn fat by boosting the body's metabolism. In many cases, this apparent metabolism boost is due to high amounts of caffeine or other stimulants in the product. Long-term use of weight loss products high in stimulants may increase the risk of hypertension and heart disease.

Other common ingredients in weight loss dietary supplements include chromium picolinate, chitosan, pectin and Siberian ginseng.

Resources

Egger, G., Cameron-Smith, D. & Stanton, R. (1999, December). The effectiveness of popular, non-prescription weight loss supplements. The Medical Journal of Australia 171(11/12), 604-608.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases—Weight-Control Information Network. (2004, November). Prescription medications for the treatment of obesity [NIH Publication No. 04-4191].

National Library of Medicine. (1999, April 26). Orlistat. MedlinePlus Drug Information.

National Library of Medicine. (1999, April 26). Phentermine. MedlinePlus Drug Information.

National Library of Medicine. (1999, April 26). Sibutramine (systemic). MedlinePlus Drug Information.