There is
pharmaceutical relief for obesity, including obesity in children and
teenagers. Though the medical community is firm in its message that
lifestyle changes have to be implemented to effectively deal with
obesity, there are medications which can be prescribed for
overweight teenagers.
As with other lifestyle-related illnesses, obesity is a chronic
condition that can require long-term treatment. Once beginning such
a program, there is a slight possibility that an obese person might
need to take medications for the duration of his or her life to
realize and maintain weight loss. At the very least, treatment could
be necessary for several years.
The medications most commonly prescribed for obese teenagers and
older are categorized as appetite suppressants and
lipase-inhibitors. The activity of appetite suppressants on the
human body is to increase the feeling of fullness in the stomach
while suppressing appetite - a person will simply have a decreased
craving for food.
These drugs suppress the appetite by interacting with certain
chemicals in the brain involved with both mood and appetite. They
include serotonin and catecholamine. Lipase-inhibitors, on the other
hand, prevent the absorption of fat by not allowing it to be broken
down to a chemical form and then consequently absorbed by the body.
Taking appetite suppressants has been known to reduce weight by
several pounds more than that lost through only physical exercise
and other non-drug therapies. The greatest impact in obese teenagers
and adults is typically observed after six months of taking the
medication. So patience is a must.
Though medication usage should always be considered with a sober
mindset, taking the appropriate ones for adult and teenage obesity,
however, does eradicate some of the need for diet control and
physical activity. Despite this, studies support that the right
medications actually help improve eating and exercising habits.
On another note of caution, these obesity-reducing medications
are needed only for those in a position of pending medical danger
due to their excessive weight. Such prescriptions cannot, and should
not, be made available casually to teens merely entertaining a short
cut for weight loss.
The consultation of a trusted family physician is critical in the
decision-making. Doctors will usually consider the distribution of
fat in the patient's body and how many pounds overweight or obese
the individual is as a basis for prescribing medications.
The main goal for taking obesity reduction medications is to move
away from alarming health dangers brought about by an undue increase
in weight. Obtaining and maintaining an ideal weight based on height
and body structure for most obese persons is normally not a
realistic goal, though it certainly can be accomplished.
A modest reduction of five to ten percent of one's previous - or
benchmark - weight is a worthwhile short-term objective that will
lead to an improved state of health. Beyond the shorter duration,
one's prior success can serve as a launching pad for even greater
weight loss where deemed still beneficial. If a teen or adult is
very heavy and ill on an abnormally frequent basis, a visit to a
doctor to discuss the prospect of controlling obesity through
medications would be time well invested.
Once prescribed, the need for remaining on the medications will
likely last for years, if not for a lifetime. However, the benefit
of the appetite suppression or prevention of fats being absorbed
into the body may well be worth the trade off for greater health
through the teen years and into adulthood.
When following these treatments to control and cure Obesity, be
sure to adhere strictly to the guidelines prescribed by your doctor
for each one.