Ebook Weight Loss Drugs: Do They Really Work?
According to the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), an alarming 60 percent of the American population over the age of 20 is overweight. A quarter of this population is also considered clinically obese [“Understanding,” 2001]. Obesity is a growing problem from both medical and social standpoints. Obese individuals are at risk of chronic diseases, as well as social implications due to society’s standards of beauty.
To solve these problems, consumers look to diet aids to lose weight. Whether prescription or over-the-counter, dietary aids such asMetabolife, Xenical and Meridia are selling at remarkable rates. Consumers are attracted to promises of quick weight loss without any exercise or changes in eating habits. Some manufacturers of weight loss aids claim users can lose the same amount of weight as “jogging up to six miles a day,” while sleeping. However, the recent rise in lawsuits pertaining to weight loss aids raises questions about the risks and benefits of using diet aids [Sardina, 2000]. Fen-Phen, short for fenfluramine and phentermine, was a popular prescription drug taken off the market by the FDA in late 1997 in response to findings of heart valve problems in 30 percent of its regular users [“Questions,” 1997]. Reports show that over 18 million people used the Fen-Phen combination before it was taken off the market [Sardina, 2000]. Recently, Enforma products was involved in a multimillion dollar lawsuit for false claims of weight loss [Winter, 2000]. While many want to believe a “magic pill” exists, experts believe there is no other way to lose weight than regular exercise and a healthy diet [Sardina, 2000].
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the risks and benefits of using diet pills, specifically Metabolife, Xenical and Meridia. Because of the magnitude of the weight loss industry, the need for proof of the effectiveness and safety of diet drugs is necessary. The health risks associated with weight loss drugs or obesity is questionable. The use of randomized double blind placebo controlled trials, the “gold” standard in clinical trials, produces results worthy of discussion.
This paper will first define obesity, its causes, and its effects on health. Next, several possible solutions for losing weight are presented, focusing on diet pills. This portion of the article evaluates, through clinical trials, the effectiveness of three popular diet aids, Metabolife®, Xenical® and Meridia®. Following is a discussion of each drug’s prescrition information, ingredients and effects on weight loss. A determination of the effectiveness of each drug will be assessed though randomized, double blind controlled clinical trials, and the risks and benefits associated with using these drugs. The article concludes with an evaluation of the effects of obesity compared to the effects of diet aids on health.
Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Obesity
- The Problem of Obesity
The Causes of Obesity
The Effects of Obesity
Ways to Lose Weight
Diet Pills
- Metabolife
Meridia
Xenical
Conclusion
References
Glossary
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