Weight loss drugs are a booming industry right now. People choose to take them for many reasons but some of the most popular can include and inability to achieve and maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is frequently used to help measure a person’s weight and is a key factor in deciding whether or not one should take weight loss drugs. A BMI of 27 accompanied by obesity related medical problems like hypertension, diabetes and sleep apnea is usually a benchmark.
Using weight loss drugs of any kind comes with risks and pitfalls. Some of the most common are:
- Abuse or dependence
- Side effects of the medicines
- Development of drug tolerance in the individual
- Effects many times last only while the drug is being taken.
- The patient would expect these drugs to work like magic and hence prevent him from working towards reducing weight by exercise and diet modifications.