The need for pharmacological treatment in obesity
Eduardo García-García, Clínica de Obesidad y Trastornos de la Conducta Alimentaria, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
Rogelio Zacarías-Castillo, Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, Mexico City, Mexico
Alfredo López-Ponce, Internal Medicine Unit, Médica Sur, Mexico City, Mexico
The growing prevalence of overweight and obese populations has reached epidemic proportions worldwide. The principal causes of this increase are high dietary fat intake and reduction of physical activity, but there are also environmental and genetic factors. Overweight is described by a body mass index between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m2, while a body mass index equal to or higher than 30 kg/m2 indicates obesity. Obesity reduces life expectancy and is a risk factor for several chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, or sleep apnea. Therefore, it is considered a public health problem and its treatment is imperative. The treatment of overweight and obesity is based in reducing body weight. The initial treatment is based on lifestyle interventions by dietary therapy, increased physical activity, and behavioral therapy. If lifestyle interventions are not enough to achieve the weight loss goals, pharmacologic therapy is recommended. The pharmacologic agents available reduce dietary intake by increasing signals of satiety on the central nervous system, reducing absorption of dietary fat, and increasing energy expenditure. Finally, patients with extreme obesity or obesity with serious weight-related health problems are considered for bariatric surgery.
Palabras clave: Obesity. Weight loss. Lorcaserin. Phentermine. Topiramate. Liraglutide.
