Exploring Weight Loss Medications: What You Need to Know
Weight loss is a process that many people undergo for a plethora of reasons and improvement of health, body image in the process is one of them. Among other strategies, diet and physical activity are the primary ways of achieving weight loss. However, these days, some people who, however, do not achieve their desired weight through the mentioned means, resort to the use of drugs. Within the last few years, the list of prescription drugs for weight loss has grown in size, which is good news for people suffering from obesity or people that need just that little extra for them to achieve their targets.
In this article, relevant information will be provided to mean the ways you perceive the suggested medications for weight loss: how do they operate, what population they are intended for, their risks, and their advantages. Weight loss pills are one of the topics that we will cover in this article, their efficiency, and what the relevant information you should know when opting to take them.
What Are Weight Loss Drugs?
Weight reduction drugs are substances that are used to lose weight by changing the functions of the mechanism of food craving control, caloric expenditure or, fat uptake into the body. Such medicines are usually recommended in cases when it is necessary to lose weight significantly and diet and physical activity alone have not been effective enough. They can be broadly divided into two broad classes of drugs:
- Hunger management pills: Such medications have anti hunger or anti craving effects making it easier to take less food and hence reducing the calorie intake.
- Dietary Fat Blockers: These drugs prevent dietary fats from being taken up in the gut such that less calories are taken by the body.
Some modern drugs serve useful purposes by acting on certain hormones in the body that are responsible for hunger and fullness.
Forms of Pharmacotherapy for Obesity
The following are examples of agents commonly recommended for use in obesity treatment and their mechanism of action.
1. Orlistat (Alli – OTC, Xenical – Prescription)
In simple terms, Orlistat is a drug that hinders the uptake of fat by the body. It does that by preventing the enzyme lipase – an enzyme that digests fats in the stomach and intestines from functioning. As a result of lipase being inhibited, a fraction of fat eaten is not absorbed by the body, so fewer calories come into the body.
Pros:
It is available for self-purchase as Alli (lower doses) and prescription cost as Xenical (higher doses).
This agent has been demonstrated to assist in weight reduction when used tools of diet control.
There is a negligible chance of getting addicted to this product or depend upon it.
Cons:
Gastrointestinal events such as oily stools, diarrhea and stomach cramps may occur, especially when one takes excess fatty foods.
Fat consumption in food should be limited strictly for the effectiveness of the treatment.
2. Phentermine
Phentermine is a medication designed to suppress appetite and increase the level of certain chemicals in the brain which helps in extending the duration of feeling full when they are consumed. It is one of the leading weight loss drugs given to patients in the United States and is commonly used for fast weight loss duration of several months.
Pros:
Works quickly and effectively for a limited period for the desired loss of weight.
Comes in brand names and its generic form so the costs are lower.
Cons:
Weight Loss Medications
Side effects such as increased heart rate, insomnia or inability to sleep, anxiety, and dry mouth may be experienced.
Due to tolerance or dependance on the drug, long-term application is not advised
Only for patients with BMI of more than 30 or more than 27 with obesity-related conditions.
3. Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Liraglutide, also referred to as Saxenda, is an injectable drug that acts as a GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) analogue, a hormone that promotes the feeling of satiety thus aiding in the control of food consumption. It is generally recommended for individuals with a body mass index of more than 30 or patients with a BMI of more than 27 alongside certain health problems associated with obesity.
Positives:
It works effectively and supports weight loss while alleviating conditions such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Decreases the feeling of hunger and improves fullness, resulting in reduced total calorie consumption.
Negatives:
Needles must be injected on a daily basis which may not appeal to some individuals.
The medication may cause negative reactions such as vomiting, belly upset, and migraines.
This may be pricier as compared to the rest of the weight management prescriptions.
4. Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrive)
Contrave comprises two elements; naltrexone (often used for treating opiate addiction) and bupropion (which is generally known as an antidepressant). These two are known to suppress appetite and reduce cravings. This is believed to influence the reward centers located in the brain with respect to food and the feelings of wanting to eat more even after feeling satiated.
Positives:
Such an approach touches on both the psychological and physiological causes of hunger and cravings.
Bupropion’s properties may help alleviate depression and increase activity.
Negatives:
It may lead to adverse reactions like nausea, constipation, or headache.
Not recommended for individuals suffering from certain health disorders, for instance, inadequately managed hypertension, seizure disorders or a history of disorders relating to eating.
5. Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Another GLP-1 receptor agonist like liraglutide is semaglutide, under the brand name Wegovy for weight loss. In clinical trials conducted for its use as a weight management drug, it has been shown to promote weight loss considerably as well as change health indexes such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels for the better.
Advantages:
Very efficacious – quite a number of people tend to lose a lot of weight, some as much as 15-20% of their body weight.
Administered by injection once every week which can be better than daily pills.
Disadvantages:
Costs a lot of money and may not be included in all health insurance policies.
In some cases, this may cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but these usually resolve after a period of adaptation.
Are Weight Loss Medications Safe?
As with any medication, weight loss drugs have their side effects and risks. It is highly recommended to speak to your doctor to find out if a particular drug is appropriate for your condition. Some of the factors that will greatly impact which drug is best for you include your past medical history and what medications you are currently on, as well as your overall health.
In most cases, weight loss drugs are regarded as being safe for use among patients who meet the requirements (BMI over 30, or over 27 with obesity-related health conditions) and only after assessment by a medical practitioner. Nevertheless, they are not a cure-all. Healthy dieting, physical activity, and lifestyle changes are still the most effective and longest-lasting methods of weight loss.
Potential Benefits of Weight Loss Medications
- Effective weight loss: so far many studies on weight loss programs have shown that medications to lose weight are very effective that most patients manage to lose some weight and maintain it off.
- Improved health outcomes: Less weight means lower chances of health conditions caused by excessive weight such as heart related illnesses, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension.
- Better quality of life: weight loss is associated with lower prevalence of
Weight Loss Medications: Everything You Should Know Before Considering the Options
Weight management, more commonly known as weight loss, is a process that is undertaken by many individuals for various reasons that could include; enhancing one’s health or building one’s self-esteem self. In most cases, when one wants to lose weight, they are usually advised to modify their eating habits and engage in regular exercise. However, with most people struggling to lose weight, sanitory medication to lose weight has become more popular as more people find it easier lthan losing weight through natural ways. This has been particularly so in the past few years as most prescription weight loss medications have become widespread and are available to people.
In connection, it is also beneficial for people who are thinking of taking any weight loss medications to know the mechanism of action of such medications, the population this type of medication is targeting, and the risks and benefits the medication may have. In this paper, we shall simplify the most used drugs for losing weight, their power, and what you should think of before taking any of them.
What Are the Medications for Treatment of Obesity?
Obesity medications are pharmacological agents that helps non-obese individuals overcome weight issues by acting on the processes that control their appetite, metabolism, or fat absorption. These drugs are usually recommended when attempts at modifying behaviour such as dieting and exercising have failed to produce any substantial weight reduction. They may be divided into two main classes:
- Appetite Suppressants: These help. These medications help inhibit hunger or cravings, making it easier to eat fewer calories.
There are also some newer medications that function by targeting the bodys’ hormones that control when a person feels hungry or full.
