Medication in the Treatment of Obesity

• Obesity Medication Overview
• Health Risks of Obesity
• Treatment of Obesity
• How Medication Can Help You Lose Weight
• Risks and Benefits of Weight-Loss Medications
• Medications Used in the Treatment of Obesity
• Medications to Avoid
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Obesity Medication Overview

Obesity means accumulation of excess body fat. Obesity is considered a chronic (long-term) disease, like high blood pressure or diabetes. As such, it usually requires long-term treatment to successfully lose weight and keep it off. Obesity has many serious long-term consequences for your health, and it is the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States (tobacco is the first).

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States and in other developed countries. More than half of Americans are overweight. Nearly one third are obese. Obesity is on the rise in our society because food is abundant and physical activity is typically an option.

Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars on dieting, diet foods, diet books, diet pills, and the like. Another $45 billion is spent on treating the diseases associated with obesity. Furthermore, businesses suffer an estimated $20 billion loss in productivity each year from absence due to illness caused by obesity.