DRUGS FOR OBESITY: FACT OR FICTION?

Do drugs for obesity really work? Perhaps! There is certainly much controversy concerning the use of drugs to assist in weight loss. The bottom line is that appetite suppressant drugs do help many people lose weight, when combined with other interventions such as changes in eating and exercise habits, but the benefits are often short-lived.

Unfortunately, when the drug is discontinued, the lost weight is frequently regained. A reasonable rule of thumb is that appetite suppressants can be used by people who are at increased risk of disease because of their obesity, but should not be used for cosmetic weight loss.

Why not? Because all drugs have side effects, and that's the case with appetite suppressants also. These can be serious, as was illustrated recently by the relatively high incidence of heart valve damage in patients taking Fen-Phen. Also, many of the drugs used are habit forming.