Doctor Prescribed Weight Loss With a Prescription Weight Loss Pill

Losing weight is a challenging prospect for anyone, but it is particularly difficult for those who are considered obese by medical standards. While diet and exercise is still the strategy of choice for anyone wanting to shed some pounds, a prescription weight loss pill can make the job a little easier. There are a variety of prescription weight loss pills on the market today, and each works in a different way. Your doctor can help you determine whether this approach is the right one for you and which type of medication might be most effective in your unique situation. You can also do your homework to find out what a prescription weight loss pill can and cannot do, and what the different types might be.

Appetite Suppressants

A prescription weight loss pill that works as an appetite suppressant will contain ingredients that trick the brain into thinking that the body is full or not hungry. This process is accomplished by increasing levels of serotonin or catecholamine in the body; the two chemicals that control appetite and mood. Over the counter medications may include a hoodia weight loss pill, while prescriptions may offer other ingredients. While an appetite suppressant can be an effective method of losing weight, there are side effects to these drugs like lightheadedness and drowsiness. They will generally be most effective when combined with diet and exercise.

Fat Absorbers

Another type of prescription weight loss pill that is commonly used is a fat absorption inhibitor. These medications will reduce the amount of fat that can be absorbed into the body, so that it is instead eliminated from the body as waste. One prescription weight loss pill that is approved for use in the United States for this purpose can reduce about 30% of fat from being absorbed. This can give people who are clinically obese the edge they need to drop necessary pounds and reduce their risk of a number of illnesses.

A prescription weight loss pill should only be given to those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over with no obesity-related health conditions or those with a BMI of 27 with any of those conditions present. Most are not approved for the long-term, and the jury is still out on whether consistent use can cause problems down the road. It is important to note that a prescription weight loss pill is not a "cure" for obesity; instead it is a tool that can help someone who has a lot of weight to lose achieve success. The average weight loss on a prescription weight loss pill ranges from 5-22 pounds over the period of one year. However, this average can differ greatly from patient to patient.

If you are seriously overweight and concerned about the health risks that the excess weight might bring, talk to your doctor about choices in a prescription weight loss pill today.

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