Should I Use Prescription Medicines To Treat Obesity?

There are dozens of prescription and over-the-counter medicines readily available to those interested in losing weight. Many prescription medicines target individuals that are obese, or those that have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater.

Because obesity dramatically increases your risk of death due to disability, stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many other factors, it may be worthwhile to look into the benefits and risks of prescription meds for obesity.

Obesity Risks
Before a doctor will prescribe obesity medication to you, he or she will first review the risk factors obesity present to you. These include as described above many serious and often life-threatening health related problems including high blood pressure or heart disease. Obese patients are also more likely to suffer from joint problems.

Studies suggest even minimal body weight loss may improve the outcomes and health of obese patients dramatically. For this reason many doctors prescribe medications to help obese patients lose weight.

Your doctor will then ask you many questions and talk with you so you can make an informed decision about whether medicines are a good or poor choice for you. For example, before prescribing obesity medication, a doctor will find out if you've tried exercising and dieting to lose weight. He or she will also assess your cardiovascular and other risks associated with being obese. Sometimes these risks outweigh the benefits of any risks presented by taking medicine to treat obesity.

The doctor you see may also ask you to see a psychotherapist to help evaluate the pros and cons of obesity medication for you.

Here are some reasons or risks to consider if you decide to take obesity medications:

• Many pharmaceutical companies providing new medications to treat obesity have not evaluated their long-term safety. Thus, there is no knowledge as to whether taking these medications for longer than 1 to 2 years may pose another threat to your health.
• Weight gain may occur if you stop taking the medication, so you have to commit to leading a more active lifestyle and making better food choices if you plan to use medication, because you probably won't want to be on medication forever.
• A prescription pill is not the answer or magic bullet to all issues associated with obesity. If obesity arises from psychological or genetic/metabolic causes, these causes must be addressed before a patient begins prescription treatment for obesity.
• Not all people find prescription medications beneficial. Studies suggest you can discern whether a medication will work by measuring how much weight you have (or have not) lost within a month of starting treatment.

Another consideration associated with prescription medication is cost; you will need to find out whether health insurance (if you have any) will cover the cost of medication. If it does not you and your doctor or other healthcare provider may look at other possible alternatives to medication to help you loose unwanted pounds.

Follow Up
If you and your doctor decide to try prescription medication therapy, you should plan to follow up with your physician regularly. This will require routine testing of your BMI, your weight and your lean mass to fat ratio. Your doctor will also make note of whether the medication has positive or negative effects on your body. Some people find the side effects of medication therapy for obesity outweigh the risks.

No matter your choice, make sure you talk with your healthcare provider so together you can make the best decision for your health, safety and longevity!