Weight-Loss Meds

By Amy Campbell If only the magic bullet for weight control really existed. We could pop a pill every day that would allow us to eat what we wanted, when we wanted. This pill would banish diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. We'd be a lot happier, too. Unfortunately, all of this is wishful thinking. A magic bullet, whether it be pill, potion, or powder, has yet to surface. A lot of options exist for helping with weight loss, but there are pros and cons to all of them. Diets are hard to follow, exercise takes time, behavior modification is hard, and surgery seems drastic. Medications are a possibility, but it's important to realize that they have side effects, they still require that you alter your eating and exercise habits, and the amount of weight that you can expect to lose is fairly moderate. Nevertheless, medication is an option for many people who need a little bit of extra help to lose weight. Let's take a look at a few of them. Orlistat (brand names Xenical and alli) Orlistat is available in prescription form as Xenical and in nonprescription, or over-the-counter, form as alli. This drug is known as a lipase inhibitor and it blocks some of the fat — about 30% in the case of Xenical and 25% in the case of alli — that's in the food you eat from being absorbed in the intestines. Unabsorbed fat is excreted in the stool. It can also block the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene, so it's advised to take a multivitamin when takin...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs