Obesity is a chronic condition of people with a BMI greater than 30, and U.S. obesity rates continue to climb even as more and more people attempt to lose weight. Obesity contributes to the development of diabetes and heart disease.Traditional weight loss strategies include diet and exercise, which works for many people but does not work for everyone. Individuals who have a BMI greater than 27 and have a obesity-related disease like diabetes or high cholesterol are eligible to try weight loss medication.
Phentermine
Phentermine is an appetite suppressant. This medication is intended to be used in conjunction with a proper diet and exercise. In October 2006, the "Yonsei Medical Journal" published a study on the effectiveness of phentermine. It concluded that short-term phentermine use resulted in significant reduction in weight and waist circumference without adverse effects. Phentermine presents side effects such as chest pains, fainting and swelling of the feet or legs. These can go away during treatment but a doctor should be informed if these symptoms present themselves. Taking phentermine with MAOI's or certain antidepressants can increase blood pressure, and you should inform your doctor of all medications you are taking to avoid unsafe interactions.
Orlistat
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor. It works by preventing some of the fat that is eaten from being absorbed and should be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise. Orlistat is available in both prescription form --Xenical -- and nonprescription form -- Alli -- which differ in strength. Side effects of orlistat include oily stools, gas, nausea and vomiting, headache, anxiety, loose stools and stomach pain, and may lessen over time. When using orlistat, limit your diet to foods that have less than 30 percent fat. Roche Consumer Health conducted a study regarding the use of over-the-counter orlistat. The study appeared in "Obesity" in March 2008 and stated that the 60 mg dose available without a prescription can be used appropriately, safely and effectively, without physician supervision. "Vascular Health and Risk Management" published a review of orlistat in March 2007 reporting that the growing body of evidence suggests that orlistat is an effective and safe weight loss aid.
Bupropion
Bupropion is used to treat depression, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder and ADHD, and is prescribed for smoking-cessation. Brand names include Wellbutrin, Aplenzin and Zyban. Some serious and undesireable side effects include aggression, hyperactivity, thoughts of suicide, mania, panic attacks, anxiety and worsening depression. Bupropion is not approved by the FDA for obesity treatment, however another side effect is weight loss. The Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kentucky studied the weight loss effects of bupropion and published the results in "Obesity Research" in March 2002. It concluded that the medication was well-tolerated and resulted in significant weight loss over placebo when combined with calorie restriction.
References
- Pubmed: Yonsei Medical Journal: Effects on Weight Reduction and Safety of Short-Term Phentermine Administration in Korean Obese People
- Phentermine.com : What is Phentermine?
- Medline Plus: Orlistat
- Pubmed: Obesity: Compliance, Behavior Change, and Weight Loss with Orlistat in an Over-the-Counter Setting
- Pubmed: Obesity Management: Update on Orlistat
- Medline Plus: Bupropion
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