Pharmaceutical Weight-loss Treatments
Dietary habits coupled with increasingly sedentary lifestyles have led to a significant rise in the level of obesity in the industrialised world. Obesity is not simply a cosmetic concern but also a medical condition which can have serious knock on effects for general health. Awareness about the dangers of being over weight is increasing and as a result the weight loss drug market is fiercely competitive.
Exercise and a balanced diet will always remain the key factors in weight loss and fat reduction. If you are eating more calories than you are burning off throughout the day the result will be that the calories will be stored as fat. But there are also a number of weight loss products on the market that may be appropriate to help some people to lose weight - appetite suppressants, certain chemical derivatives, laxatives, hormones, herbal preparations, amphetamines, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, neuropeptide-y inhibitors, and beta - 3 adrenergic receptor stimulants.
It is important to note that no drug is a ‘cure-all’ and that there are risks involved in taking weight loss medication. Some amphetamines have been banned because they're addictive and cause psychotic behaviour and brain damage. The "fen-phen" diet-pill combination was taken off the market after it was linked to heart valve damage. The government banned the herbal supplement ephedra after it was linked to strokes and anxiety. The use of weight - loss medications should be combined with physical activity and improved diet to lose and maintain weight successfully over the long term.
There are however, some treatments that can be used safely under medical supervision. Two of the newer treatments available include Acomplia and Xenical. For more information on these and other wieght loss prescription treatments please see below. More detailed information is also available about Acomplia on our Homepage
External Links
Review of prescription weight loss treatments - from Web MD
Independent information about Acomplia - from Drugs.com
Independent information about Xenical - from Drugs.com