Obesity: Can Pills Help?

• What is Obesity?
• Causes & Risks 
• What About Diets? 
• Can Pills Help?
• What About Surgery?

Can Medication Help?

People have long wanted to believe in some sort of "magic bullet" pill that would allow them to lose weight without need for restrictive diets or regular exercise. The reality is, however, that such remedies remain "pie in the sky." Many of the most heavily advertised pills either produce very mild appetite supression or have no effect whatever. We do not currently know of any medicines that will let you "dream the pounds away."

Some drugs that were, in fact, effective have unfortunately proven to be too risky to use, ("fen-Phen" being the most notable example). Products that are now on the market have much better safety records, but are usually effective only when combined with healthy diet and regular physical activity.

Currently used medications include:

• Orlistat (brand name, Xenical. This works by blocking intestinal absorption of about 30% of ingested fat. A problematic side effect of this drug can be diarrhea that not uncommonly leads patients to abandon its use.
• Phentermine is the still-used appetite suppressant that was part of the "fen-Phen" combination of the past. By itself, it has an acceptable safety record.
• Sibutramine (known as Meridia) is an appetite suppressant approved for long-term use.

If a person has a BMI of greater than 30 without obesity-related health conditions, he/she may benefit from the use of medications. It is important that these drugs be used under a physician's care and that patients be monitored by their doctors regularly while using them. With proper use and in combination with behavior therapy, diet and exercise, drugs may assist patients to lose weight. However, those with severe obesity tend to loose only 15-20% of the weight they need to lose when employing these methods.