Review article

Pharmacological therapy as a supplement to reduction diet and physical activity for weight reduction

Herceg Dora ; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Merćep Iveta ; Klinički bolnički centar Zagreb

Abstract

Pharmacological therapy can be useful as an adjunct to a reduction diet and physical activity in reducing
body weight. However, it is important to note that pharmacological therapy should not be the only way to
reduce body weight. Diet and physical activity are key to healthy and sustainable weight loss. Pharmacological therapy should only be used under expert supervision and in cases where other strategies for weight loss are unsuccessful. The obesity and weight gain pandemic continues to grow at an alarming rate. Current evidence to recommend specific diets and combinations of diet and medication for weight loss and combination of medication and physical activity and diet remains weak, which may be partially
attributable to differences in dietary protocols, differences in monitoring of physical activity, and different follow-up times in the available trials. Because lifestyle modifications are limited in their success in maintaining weight loss, pharmacotherapy plays an important role in achieving clinically significant weight loss. Pharmacotherapy for weight loss is indicated as an addition to a diet with reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity in adults with BMI ≥30 kg/m², but also in obese individuals with BMI ≥27 to 35 kg/m² with comorbidities or BMI > 40 kg/m2 with or without comorbidities. Pharmacotherapy of obesity has
developed significantly in the last 60 years. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has so far approved six drugs for the long-term treatment of obesity. It is unlikely that a single pharmacological agent will be effective in the treatment of obesity. Therefore, future strategies for the treatment of obesity will need to promote effective weight loss and will likely require the simultaneous use of drugs that work through different mechanisms. Weight control goals emphasize the importance of a realistic approach to weight loss to reduce health risks, and include promoting weight loss, maintaining weight loss, and preventing weight
gain. If one wants to reduce body weight, it is necessary to approach with several different strategies, including pharmacological therapy.

Keywords

pharmacotherapy, physical activity, body mass, reduction diet

Hrčak ID:

304515

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/304515

Publication date:

29.12.2022.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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