Weight Loss Pills

Prescription Diet Pills

Prescription weight-loss medications should be used only by patients who are at increased medical risk because of their weight. They should not be used for “cosmetic” weight loss. Prescription weight-loss drugs are approved only for those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and above, or 27 and above if they have obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure, dyslipidemia (abnormal amounts of fat in the blood), or type 2 diabetes. BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height. A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.

Obesity is a chronic disease, any treatment, whether drug or non-drug, may need to be continued for years, and perhaps a lifetime, to improve health and maintain a healthy weight. However, like many other types of drugs, there is still little information on how safe and effective weight-loss medications are for many years of use.

Most currently available prescription diet pills are FDA-approved for short-term use, meaning a few weeks, but doctors may prescribe them for longer periods of time—a practice called “off-label use.” (See box above for more information about off-label use.) Only a few weight-loss medications are approved for longer-term use, and it they are specifically for patients who are significantly obese. Their safety and effectiveness have not been established for use beyond 2 years, however.

Most prescription diet pill companies are trying to invent genuine solutions to the problems of overweight and obesity. Even though prescription-only diet pills are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration agency (FDA), problems persist. In short, like all drugs, diet pills carry health risks. Now they are producing diet pills that work on the brain to suppress appetite, but some work by creating an increased feeling of fullness after eating. A new type of weight loss medication are drugs known as lipase inhibitors, which work in the gut to inhibit the amount of fat (and calories) digested. Most over the counter weight loss drugs act as stimulants to decrease appetite.

According to the US Surgeon-General and mainstream weight-loss expert opinion, obesity and obesity-related diseases are best reduced through weight loss. Weight-loss medications may be appropriate for carefully selected patients who are at significant medical risk because of their obesity. They are not recommended for use by people who are only mildly overweight unless they have health problems that are made worse by their weight. These medications should not be used only to improve appearance. Medications to treat obesity should be combined with physical activity and improved diet.

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