Obesity

What is obesity?

Obesity is a disease that means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. Both terms mean that your weight is greater than what's considered healthy for your height.

Body Mass Index (BMI) measures how much you weigh compared to how tall you are. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or more is considered to have obesity. Severe obesity is having a BMI of 40 or higher. Obesity increases your risk for many other diseases and health problems, especially if the extra body fat is carried around the waist.

What raises your risk of obesity?

Obesity happens over time from taking in more calories (through food and drinks) than used up from physical activity and daily living. Your body stores the extra calories as fat. The right balance between calories and activity is different for everyone.

There are many different factors that can affect your body weight. Certain medicines or medical conditions may affect your weight. Other factors include your:

Genetic makeup
Eating habits
Sex
Race or ethnicity
Physical activity level

How is obesity diagnosed?

To find out if you have obesity, your health care provider may:

Ask about your health history, which may include reviewing your weight history, weight-loss efforts, and how physically active you are.
Do a physical exam, which may include checking your height, weight, and vital signs, as well as listening to your heart and lungs.
Order blood tests or other imaging tests, which may include checking any known health problems, as well as for other weight-related diseases and health conditions.
Calculate your BMI, to check your risk for certain diseases. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk. BMI does not distinguish between fat, muscle, and bone mass. It may also overestimate body fat in athletes or those with a muscular build, or underestimate body fat in older persons, or others who have lost muscle.
Check your waist size, since a large waistline, with more body fat around your abdomen (belly) rather than your hips, increases your risk for weight-related health problems.

What health problems can obesity cause?

Having a larger body size can make your heart work harder, put extra pressure on your joints, and may increase your risk for many health conditions, including:

Type 2 diabetes.
Heart disease.
High blood pressure.
Stroke.
Metabolic syndrome.
Osteoarthritis.
Sleep apnea.
Pregnancy problems.
Fertility problems.
Some cancers.

If you have obesity, losing even 5 to 10% of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases. For example, that means losing 10 to 20 pounds if you weigh 200 pounds.

What are the treatments for obesity?

Treatment plans for obesity may depend on your overall weight, other health conditions, and your willingness to participate in a weight-loss plan.

Your provider can tell you what a healthy weight is for you, help you set goals, and give you tips on how to lose weight. They may refer you to other providers that specialize in nutrition or weight loss to help you make realistic goals and provide support.

Possible treatments may include:

Dietary changes and exercise goals to help you learn how to adopt healthy nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes to lose weight safely and keep it off long term.
Counseling or support groups can give you encouragement and help you understand what's behind weight changes.
Weight-loss medicines to treat obesity.
Weight loss procedures or surgery if you have severe obesity or serious obesity-related health problems and have not been able to lose enough weight.

A healthy lifestyle that includes healthy eating patterns and regular physical activity can help you lose weight and lower your chance of developing complications related to obesity.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Obesity FDA Approved Drugs

BELVIQ [Lorcaserin Hydrochloride]

10mg (oral tablet)

Eisai Inc^{Jun 27, 2012}

Method for chronic weight management by decreasing food intake in an individual who does not have severe renal impairment or esrd.
Method for chronic weight management by decreasing food intake.
Method for chronic weight management by inducing satiety in an individual who does not have severe renal impairment or esrd.
Method for chronic weight management by inducing satiety.
Method for chronic weight management by treating obesity in an individual who does not have severe renal impairment or esrd.
Method for chronic weight management by treating obesity.
Method for chronic weight management.
Method for chronic wieght management by controlling weight gain.
Use of belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) for chronic weight management by decreasing food intake in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.
Use of belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) for chronic weight management by inducing satiety in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved a greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.
Use of belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) for chronic weight management by treating obesity in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved a greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.
Use of belviq (lorcaserin hydrochloride) for chronic weight management in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved a greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.

efficacy
0.0 (0)

side effects
0.0 (0)

danger
0.0 (0)

BELVIQ XR [Lorcaserin Hydrochloride]

20mg (oral tablet, extended release)

Eisai Inc^{Jul 15, 2016}

Method for chronic weight management by decreasing food intake in an individual who does not have severe renal impairment or esrd.
Method for chronic weight management by decreasing food intake.
Method for chronic weight management by inducing satiety in an individual who does not have severe renal impairment or esrd.
Method for chronic weight management by inducing satiety.
Method for chronic weight management by treating obesity in an individual who does not have severe renal impairment or esrd.
Method for chronic weight management by treating obesity.
Method for chronic weight management.
Method for chronic wieght management by controlling weight gain.
Use of lorcaserin hydrochloride for chronic weight management by decreasing food intake in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved a greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.
Use of lorcaserin hydrochloride for chronic weight management by inducing satiety in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved a greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.
Use of lorcaserin hydrochloride for chronic weight management by treating obesity in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved a greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.
Use of lorcaserin hydrochloride for chronic weight management in patients on a reduced-calorie diet and who have achieved a greater than or equal to 5% weight loss by week 12 of treatment.

efficacy
0.0 (0)

side effects
0.0 (0)

danger
0.0 (0)

CONTRAVE [Bupropion Hydrochloride^{C₁₃H₁₈ClNOClH} : Naltrexone Hydrochloride^{C₂₀H₂₃NO₄ClH}]

90mg : 8mg (oral tablet, extended release)

Orexigen^{Sep 10, 2014}

For chronic weight management for treating overweight or obesity.
For effect on blood glucose parameters in patients with insulin resistance.
Use of naltrexone and bupropion based on an escalating dose schedule.
Use of naltrexone and bupropion for chronic weight management for treating overweight or obesity in patients with major depressive disorder.
Use of naltrexone and bupropion in a layered formulation for chronic weight management for affecting weight loss.
Use of naltrexone and bupropion in extended-release form for chronic weight management for treating overweight or obesity.

efficacy
0.0 (0)

side effects
0.0 (0)

danger
0.0 (0)

QSYMIA [Phentermine Hydrochloride^{C₁₀H₁₅NClH} : Topiramate^{C₁₂H₂₁NO₈S}]

eq 11.25mg base : 69mg (oral capsule, extended release)

eq 15mg base : 92mg (oral capsule, extended release)

eq 3.75mg base : 23mg (oral capsule, extended release)

eq 7.5mg base : 46mg (oral capsule, extended release)

Vivus^{Jul 17, 2012}

Use of qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) for weight management, including, but not limited to effecting weight loss, treating obesity, and/or treating overweight.

efficacy
0.0 (0)

side effects
0.0 (0)

danger
0.0 (0)

SAXENDA [Liraglutide Recombinant]

18mg/3ml (6mg/ml) (subcutaneous solution)

Novo Nordisk Inc^{Dec 23, 2014}

Method for chronic weight management by treating obesity.

efficacy
0.0 (0)

side effects
0.0 (0)

danger
0.0 (0)

WARNING: Consult a licensed physician in the appropriate field for medical treatment and drug prescription. Do not self medicate.

WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.

Felter's Materia Medica on Obesity

CHIONANTHUS
The bark of the root of Chionanthus virginicus, Linné. (Nat. Ord. Oleaceae.) United States from Pennsylvania southward. Dose, 5 to 30... / ... which the cells of Langerhans are destroyed. It should be given renewed study in the glycosuria of obesity and when sugar intolerance alone, and not starch disturbances, create what so often passes f... / ...use of chionanthus will be of much benefit in such cases.¹

FUCUS
The marine plant Fucus vesiculosus, Linné (Nat. Ord. Moraceae). A perennial seaweed. Common Names: Bladder-wrack, Sea Wrack, Kelp-ware,... / ...fic Medicine Fucus. Dose, 5 to 30 drops. Action and Therapy.Fucus, once exploited as a remedy for obesity, is no longer relied upon for that purpose. It has, however, alterative properties, probably... / ...irritation and congestion has led to its successful use in acute desquamative nephritis. From 5 to 20 drops should be taken every 3 or 4 hours.¹

Physician's Materia Medica on Obesity

BLADDER WRACK
The entire plant of FUCUs VEsICULOsUs. Lin. Alterative. dis cutient, secernant. Prescribed for scrofulous enlargement of glands or more often to reduce obesity.²

POKE (Phytolacca)
The root, also the fruit of PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA, Lin. Altera tive, deobstruent. in large doses emetic and cathartic, also distinctly narcotic. Much used in rheumatic and in cutaneous affections, to promote resolution in glandular enlargements, to combat a tendency to obesity, and in the treatment of hemorrhoids and of mam mary inflammations.²

THYROID GLAND
The desiccated gland or an extract from it is used with remark able effects in myxedema. cretinism, scleroderma and excessive obesity and is also said to have given good results in acute mania, melancholia, puerperal and climacteric insanity and other condi tions of mental derangement. Dose of the dried gland (Thyroideum Siccum, B. P.), 0.2 to 0.6 Grm. (3 to 10 grs.).²

Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Obesity

OBESITY
Regulate the diet, withholding fatty, saccharine and starchy food to a large extent; as remedies, prescribe saline waters, e. g. Kis singen and Vichy on alternate days (the Effervescing Granules are convenient) or sodium phosphate; fluid extract bladder-wrack; ex tract thyroid gland; Turkish baths; suitable exercise, active or passive.²

References

1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.

Ledgend of Medicine

MODERN MEDICINES

HOME REMEDIES

RANDOM DRUGS

RANDOM AILMENTS