Obesity is an ever increasing problem. There is the real risk that life expectancy will fall after increasing for the last sixty years.
This article describes the commonly used medications in the fight against obesity. Does it indicate that we want the physician to control us?
Obesity is a global problem and many approaches are being used to control it. Obesity was initially considered an aesthetic issue and was handled by cosmetic surgeons. Research has shown that obesity is associated with many diseases and early deat.
Medical doctors have handled the problem of obesity with their own expertise, use of medications. No new medications were invented because obesity was not seen as a problem. However, many physicians have experimented with existing medications with varying degrees of success. The following is a list of frequently used list, this is not an exhaustive list.
Wellbrutin (Brupropion) - Was initially used for treating depression and smoking cessation. Now used in the management of obesity.
Duromine (phetermine) - 1 capsule daily, appetite suppressant, used in conjunction with a calorie reduced diet..
Diazoxide - Is not a traditional anti-obesity drug, but it has been shown to be successful in producing weight loss women with PCOS as well as individuals with simple obesity.
Metformin - Is a glucose sensitizing medication, and may produce weight loss in insulin resistant or type-2 diabetic patients and women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Naltrexone - Is a drug used for drug and alcohol dependence, but some studies have been conducted on this drug for obesity, especially sweets cravings and binge eating.
Reductil (sibutramine hydrochloride) - 10 to 15 mg daily, used in conjunction with a diet.
Tenuate Dospan (diethylpropion Hcl) - 75 mg daily, three times daily, used in conjunction with a calorie controlled diet.
Topiramate - Is currently used for seizure disorders, and is not approved for weight loss. Phase 3 weight loss trials were recently discontinued because of an unfavorable side effect profile
Zoloft - Is an antidepressant, but it is currently in late stage clinical trials for weight loss.
From reading about these medications, it is clear that these are mind controlling drugs. Most, if not all, are and were used to treat psychiatric conditions. Does this use of mind controlling drugs in the fight against obesity signal to us at subconscious level that obesity is a disease of the mind? Is the use of mind controlling drugs in the fight against justified? Is there the risk that society is handing over it's responsibility to the physician?
