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For those who are severely obese, long-term treatment and plans will
be needed in order to promote and sustain weight loss in the long term,
severe obesity is a chronic illness just as diabetes or high blood pressure
is and as with these conditions sometimes the use of prescription medication
may be needed.
While prescription medication used for the treatment of obesity is generally
safe, there are some side effects to taking them. While prescription medication
can help, they are not a miracle cure and should be used alongside a change
in lifestyle and an exercise plan to achieve success in the long term
and to keep the weight lost off.
How do I know if I need prescription medication?
Your doctor will advise you if prescription medication could benefit you
and it is generally given in cases of people whose body mass index is
greater than 30 with no obesity related conditions or a person who has
a body mass index of 27 and above who have obesity related conditions.
What medications are used to treat obesity?
Most weight loss medication are only used in the short term with short
term being defined as a few weeks or at the most a few months, they are
usually medications called appetite suppressants and generally come in
tablet or capsule form which release medication over an extended period
of time. Another common type of weight loss medication is a fat absorption
inhibitor which works by blocking up to 30% of dietary fat from being
absorbed.
Do prescription medications really work?
Some prescription medications are thought to be extremely effective in
helping those severely obese lose weight, the amount of weight actually
lost will vary widely from person to person with acceptable weight loss
of between 5 to 20lbs over a period of one year being acceptable.
You will be given a full examination before starting on medication and
this will give your doctor a good indication of the amount of weight loss
you could achieve on the medication.
Are there any risks to taking prescription medication?
Your doctor will discuss the possibility of any risks associated with
long-term prescription medication treatment for obesity, the following
possible concerns and risks should be discussed:
* Addiction to the medication - most prescription medication has to be
controlled as most of them have substances which can cause addiction.
* Developing tolerance to the medication - all weight loss will tend to
level off around 6 months; due to this, many people think that they have
developed a tolerance to the medication. Studies have shown that this
could be due to the medication reaching its effectiveness or the patient
has developed tolerance.
* Side effects of the medication - most medication does have side effects
although side effects with medication given for obesity are generally
mild they can be unpleasant.
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