Losing Weight through Medication
Recent studies have shown that there are more people now who are overweight compared to how it was ten years ago. This is not only evident in old people but is seen in children as well.
There are many reasons why this has happened. The primary reason for most patients is not having a good diet. Fast food restaurants use a lot of saturated salts which is fattening. A few years ago, someone sued McDonald’s for being obese. The judge ruled in favor of the fast food company.
Other factors could be due to genetics, excessive drinking of sodas and the slower metabolism in the body as people grow older.
Some people feel that since gaining weight was done so quickly, losing it can be done in the same manner. The truth about this is that it is easier to gain than to lose. But some people are still optimistic with a quick fix solution that hopefully, weight loss drugs can give.
Years ago, patients had to get the approval of the doctor to take such drugs. Some worked by increasing the serotonin levels in the brain. This will fool the user into thinking that enough food has already been eaten but in reality, this was less than 5 servings.
This strategy was very successful because it increased the person’s metabolic rate. It was only later that it was discovered that it had side effects that prompted manufacturer’s to take it off the shelves.
This setback did not stop pharmaceutical companies to make better weight loss drugs that don’t produce side effects. From the 1950’s to the present, new drugs have been developed.
The one thing that hasn’t been eliminated is the side effects that may happen. Some of these could be diarrhea and vomiting, tightness in the chest and in the urinary tract and something as fatal like a heart attack or a stroke. It has made people see these drugs do more harm than good even with the advances in medical technology,
Some of these have drugs have also proven to be addictive since amphetamine is part of its ingredients. Another problem is that tests have shown that when the patient stops taking it, the weight returns.
The only way to maintain or lose weight with the use of medication is to do it with proper exercise and a change in diet. This is because the body adapts to drugs and exercises once it is done routinely.
The idea that a simple drug can change everything without the need to change ones diet or sacrificing anything is very tempting since people have seen friends and family members use it and have shown tremendous improvement.
The person has to keep in mind that how the drug works for one person may not work the same way for another. A patient that loses 20 pounds does not guarantee another individual that taking the same drug will also do the same effect.
It is advisable to consult a doctor when the person decides to take weight loss drugs that are bought off the counter. This is to monitor the person’s health and should anything happen, proper medical attention can be given.
There is only so much that the doctor can do for the patient. In the end, it is the individual’s will and determination to lose those excess pounds.
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