In the pharmaceutical industry, obesity is now seen as a “trillion dollar disease”. This is the amount that an effective weight loss pill can hope to produce. But is the company getting any closer to providing a diet pill that actually works – that is, a safe and effective drug that treats obesity? The answer, it seems, is no.
Weight loss drugs
It is true that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a small number of weight loss drugs such as Xenia and Meridian for long-term use in the treatment of obesity (BMI > 30). But evidence gathered in clinical trials shows that the effectiveness of these weight-bearing drugs is not impressive. Total weight loss per year is usually in the range of 8-20 pounds. Also, patients participate in controlled trials involving a combination of drug therapy, diet, exercise and counseling. Making it difficult to determine the exact effect of the drug itself. In comparison, well-administered obesity drug trials have higher rates of weight gain and weight loss. In the long run of the case, reducing compliance and reducing burden. In short, while it helps some patients, weight loss pills are not the answer to obesity, especially when cost is considered.
Should we be surprised?
After all, even bariatric surgery is not guaranteed to last unless patients follow a significant diet plan after undergoing it. In fact, some obesity experts say that medical interventions like drugs and surgery are almost certain to fail, for the simple reason that they control and burden patients where they are. According to this theory, only when patients accept full responsibility for their diet and lifestyle, do they have a good chance of maintaining weight in the long term.
Unfortunately, everyone is satisfied with this idea!
It does not satisfy the pharmaceutical industries, who need to make money. It doesn’t satisfy doctors, who need to give their patients the expected weight, and it doesn’t satisfy consumers who want to lose weight quickly without changing their eating habits. In summary, there is a huge demand for obesity drugs, but a potential product has not yet emerged.
Cosmetic weight loss pills
The demand for dietary supplements is not limited to clinically obese individuals. Millions of consumers who have less than 40 pounds to lose are taking non-prescription drugs to burn body fat or gain weight. According to a University of Michigan study, about 25 percent of young women use anorectic diet pills, which include laxatives and diuretics, when trying to lose weight loss medication australia. These non-prescription drugs are difficult to evaluate, as they are not subject to the same high standards as prescription-only drugs. So there is no need to test everything, there are fewer dosage and other requirements, and it is not necessary to report “adverse events” or health problems. Also, long-term clinical trials have been conducted on non-pharmaceutical drugs, so solid evidence for their safety and efficacy is scarce. Meanwhile, the huge profits from these weight loss products mean that expensive advertising campaigns can support consumers to accept acceptance, create rules and even control them. In fact, the FDA has found that it is nearly impossible to ban over-the-counter dietary supplements, even after reports of illness and injury.
Herbal medicine for “healthy eating”.
Over the past five years, sales of herbal diet pills, marketed as “health foods,” have surged. These herbal supplements often contain a combination of vitamins and other active ingredients to give death a healthier look. Clinical evidence generally does not support such claims, but the FDA and FTC are investigating some suppliers. However, the rise in demand for these herbal weight loss pills is another indication that we have a huge appetite for what is really a non-dietary approach to weight management.
How do weight loss pills work?
Simply put, weight loss drugs are designed to either change body chemistry to reduce appetite, or reduce calorie absorption to inhibit digestion. Appetite suppressants include amphetamines such as stimulants such as ephedra, or drugs that increase serotonin or norepinephrine levels in the brain. Digestive inhibitors include fat-blockers (lipase inhibitors) such as xenias and chitosan, carb-blockers, and high-fiber bulking agents such as glucomannan.
Are weight loss pills safe?
Obesity medications are generally safe when used properly and under medical supervision. The problem starts when employees don’t.