Prescription Weight Loss Medications
August 31, 2008 by Kathleen Brand
Filed under Weight Loss Supplements & Diets
Prescription weight loss medications - Only 26.7% of prescription weight loss medication users reported following recommended diet and physical activity behaviors in this study.
Lifestyle modifications, including behavior therapy, diet, and physical activity, are the cornerstone of weight management.
Current weight management guidelines state that prescription weight loss medications may be used as part of a comprehensive weight loss program including diet and physical activity modifications.
These modifications include increasing physical activity to 30 to 45 minutes on most days of the week and reducing daily caloric intake by 500 to 1000 calories.
Clinical research also suggests that increasing consumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in place of calorie-dense foods may increase satiety and decrease overall caloric intake aiding weight management.
The initial goal of weight loss therapy is to reduce body weight by approximately 10% over a 6-month period.
Even small losses in weight, such as 5% to 10%, have been found to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and reduce blood glucose levels among overweight and obese persons without diabetes.
Weight loss attributable to prescription weight loss drugs is modest, about 3% to 8% of body weight, and is based on a small number of patients assigned to drug treatment in clinical trials. Read more
