What is obesity? Is it just a condition where a person is fat or few pounds overweight or is it a condition that can prove to be fatal? Though very few people realise this, obesity can prove to be fatal. It can not only lead to several other health risks but also cause death if not controlled in time.



About Obesity

Few people take obesity as seriously as it should be taken. Healthcare authorities are alarmed to find that it is the second biggest preventable cause of death after smoking. Obesity is also proving to be a nuisance for financial status of the country as more and more people are becoming sick due to obesity. This is resulting in loss of work, is increasing the burden on national health insurance and leading to more expenditure on corrective measures.

Causes of obesity

Some of the causes of obesity are as follows:

- Inactive lifestyle

- Unhealthy diet

- Hormonal problems

- Eating problems

- Mental illness

- Chronic depression

- Stress, fatigue

- Genetic factors

- Metabolic disorders

Obesity treatment using prescription medicines

There are several prescription and over-the-counter medicines available for weight loss. From these, two of the better known prescription obesity treatments are as below:

Xenical

Manufactured by Roche Laboratories, Xenical is an oral weight loss medication that is available in 120mg tablet form. Orlistat, the active ingredient in Xenical works in the digestive system by attaching itself to lipases and stopping them from breaking down 30 percent of fats from food. The un-broken fats are removed via bowel movements and the body is forced to use up stored fats. This action of Xenical also results in certain side effects which mainly include oily discharge, discharge of gas, and increased frequency of bowel movements.

Acomplia

Acomplia blocks certain receptors in the brain and result in the feeling of satiety. It helps patients to eat less than usual. Acomplia helps obese patients to achieve significant weight loss when used with a calorie reduced diet and exercise. Acomplia has minor side effects which are temporary in nature. These include nausea, dizziness, vomiting, anxiety, hypoglycaemia, and mood swings.

Which is the best medicine for obesity?

It is not for you or me to decide which the best medicine for obesity is. While Xenical or Acomplia may prove effective and safe for you, it may not be the case for someone else. Different people react differently to medications based on the composition of their body. Only a doctor can determine safety of medication for you. Whether it will be effective or not, even a doctor cannot say from the beginning of the treatment. As the treatment proceeds, your body adjusts to the medication and reacts to it. On the basis of that, it can be said if the medicine was best for you or not.