FDA-Approved Medications for Treating Obesity : Weight-loss medications may be recommended for patients who are at increased medical risk because of their obesity. Most research-based and professional associations recommend lifestyle therapy for at least six months before embarking on a weight-loss plan using physician-prescribed drug therapy. Even then, it must be used only as part of a comprehensive weight loss program that includes dietary therapy and physical activity. Currently available prescription medications include: Phentermine (Adipex, Fastin, Ionamin, Oby-trim) Diethylpropion (Tenuate, Tenuate dospan, Tepanil) Mazindol (Sanorex, Mazanor) Phendimetrazine (Adipost, Bontril, Plegine, Prelu-2, X-Trozine) Benzphetamine (Didrex) Sibutramine (Meridia) Orlistat (Xenical) Most of these appetite-suppressants have been approved for short-term use, meaning a few weeks or months. Sibutramine and orlistat are the only weight-loss medications approved for longer-term use in significantly obese patients, although the safety and effectiveness have not been established for use beyond one year. Most of these drugs decrease appetite by affecting levels of the brain neurotransmitters catecholamine, serotonin and/or noradrenaline -- brain chemicals that affect mood and appetite. Orlistat (Xenical) does not act directly on the central nervous system but inhibits an enzyme essential to fat digestion. In general, these medications are modestly effective, leading to an average weight loss of five to 22 pounds above that expected with non-drug obesity treatments.

What you weigh is the result of several factors: How much and what kinds of food you eat? Whether your lifestyle includes regular physical activity? Whether you use food to respond to stress and other situations in your life? Your physiologic and genetic make-up Your age and health status. A Successful weight loss and weight management program like the one offered by Women Fitness (WF) addresses all of these factors. And that's the reason to ignore products and programs that promise quick and easy results, or that promise permanent results without permanent changes in your lifestyle. Any ad that says you can lose weight without lowering the calories you take in and/or increasing your physical activity is selling fantasy and false hope. In fact, some people would call it fraud. Furthermore, the use of some products may not be safe.

Before using any particular type of diet pills (or other weight loss supplements) you should consider all of the many choices, thus allowing you to make a more informed decision about which dieting product is right for your own particular needs. There are a wide variety of sub industries which coexist within the weight loss and dieting industries, and these sub industries cover a wide variety of weight loss products, supplements, videos, herbal fat loss products, and dieting pills (both prescription pills and non prescription pills). This page: "Weight Loss Pill" as well as every other topic on this site are not meant to be the sole source of information, since there are many possible alternatives to losing weight in a healthy manner. In fact, there is a huge list of possible choices for each dieter to choose from when getting ready to begin a new diet program and all of these choices should be explored fully before any particular fat loss product is chosen. Below is a brief description of some of the different types of pills, supplements, counseling programs, and other weight loss products which the dieter must examine before choosing the right one.

Principles of Healthy Weight Loss : Follow sensible and healthy guidelines for eating and physical activity for achieving and maintaining healthy weight. Excess weight is caused by an interaction of genetic (inherited) and environmental (social and cultural) factors, which include metabolic (physical and chemical) and behavioral (psychological and emotional) components. Because of the complexity of weight loss, gain, and maintenance, women need to understand that a quick and effortless weight loss is worthless. As sedentary lifestyle is a significant barrier to successfully maintaining weight loss and preventing further weight gain, it is important to add more activity in your daily routine. Losing weight requires burning more calories than the body takes in, by either reducing caloric intake or increasing caloric expenditure, or preferably, both. Remember, achieving and maintaining even a modest amount of weight loss can reduce the severity of illnesses associated with obesity. Medical, pharmacological and surgical interventions may be options for women with more serious cases of overweight and obesity. These interventions, used in conjunction with a plan for healthy eating and physical activity, should be utilized in conformance with applicable treatment guidelines.