Weight loss

When to weight loss drugs should be used?

Although medical treatments (eg, orlistat [Alli, Xenical]) are available, they should only be used by people who have health risks associated with obesity. Doctors usually consider medicine to be useful in patients with a BMI greater than 30 or patients with a BMI greater than 27 who have other medical conditions (such as hypertension, diabetes, high blood cholesterol), which puts them at risk for developing heart disease. It is not recommended that medications can be used for cosmetic weight loss or losing small amounts of weight. For more information on weight loss medications, refer to the Obesity article.


Why is weight loss important?

Maintaining a healthy body weight is important for maintaining both physical and mental wellbeing and prevent disease. Overweight and obesity is associated with an increased risk of many medical conditions, including

      heart diseases,


      high blood pressure,


      Stroke,


      diabetes,


      osteoarthritis,


      certain types of cancer,


      sleep apnea,


      and elevated cholesterol.

It should be noted that the reduction in weight for those who are obese can make a major impact on the above-mentioned conditions. Many overweight people also report improved mood, increased self-esteem and motivation, and feel healthier in general, after they have lost weight.