[...]... must continue to take the medication to maintain the weight loss; this is controversial because some doctors believe the safety of taking many of these drugs for decades is not yet well known We know that many weight-loss drugs cannot be taken long term, and therefore the patient must switch to another weight-loss drug, further increase exercise, or adjust his or her diet Weight-loss drugs are generally... describe the health and emotional implications of being overweight, the biological mechanisms of weight-loss drugs, and the benefits and side effects of these drugs Weight-Loss Drugs: Pills and Supplements Weight-loss drugs are intended to enable patients to lose weight more effectively than diet or exercise alone by suppressing appetite, inhibiting the absorption of fat, or in some cases, increasing the. .. measure the thickness of fat on various areas of the body The calipers, which resemble tongs, are used to pinch typically fatty areas such as the stomach, thigh, or back of the upper arm The measurements are then plugged into a formula to convert the thickness of these fat folds into a percentage of body fat The numbers can fluctuate, however, depending on the type of calipers used, the consistency of the. .. Although the nutrients in supplements are in foods, the FDA does not consider them foods Drugs that require a prescription must produce research to show that they are safe and effective before the FDA approves them for sale Dietary supplements do not have to be approved by the FDA to be sold Dietary supplements must not, however, be marketed on false or misleading 15 16 Weight-Loss Drugs claims The FDA... with BMI ranges for adults in the following table: Table 1.1 BMI Weight Status Below 18.5 Underweight 18.5–24.9 Normal 25.0–29.9 Overweight 30.0–39.9 Obese 11 12 Weight-Loss Drugs Figure 1.1  Weight-loss drugs may work by suppressing the appetite, inhibiting the body’s absorption of fat, or boosting the body’s metabolism slightly These drugs are intended to support an overall weight-loss plan of making... processed foods is that without fiber to slow the absorption of food, the glucose (sugar) from the broken-down food floods the bloodstream, causing the body to produce insulin to handle this excess sugar The insulin captures the sugar, which may leave the person feeling Fat and Weight Loss Figure 2.1  The United States’ teenage obesity rate is higher than that of 14 other industrialized countries, some of... knows for sure whether removing the label of obese when referring to an obese child will make the child feel more comfortable with his or her body, but the issue can raise sensitivity about the stigmatization these children are likely to experience 21 22 Weight-Loss Drugs Figure 2.2  Processed foods are made with ingredients including white flour and white sugar These foods, such as the cinnamon buns... inexpensive alternative to sugar that was developed in the 1970s.  (© Mike Blake/Reuters/Corbis) 25 26 Weight-Loss Drugs the body is generally associated with infection The red area around a cut is inflammation, caused by the rush of immune cells combating harmful bacteria that is trying to get into the body The reddened area will eventually heal and then the redness goes away A limited amount of inflammation... result of the drugs will generally show results within the first six months A patient could also lose weight due to the drugs after the first six months, but it will 10 Weight, Obesity, and BMI be a moderate weight loss The length of time during which a person will continue to lose weight as a direct result of the weight-loss drug depends on how long it takes his or her body to adjust to the medication... or even daily part of their diets Particularly disturbing is the quantity of sugar children consume today According to the United States Department of Agriculture, in the early 1800s, the average person consumed approximately 12 pounds of sugar annually By the 1970s, the annual consumption of sugar jumped to 137 pounds, a figure that has not changed much over the years despite the introduction of many . y0 w0 h0" alt="" Weight-Loss Drugs DRUGS The Straight Facts DRUGS The Straight Facts Alcohol Alzheimer’s and Memory Drugs Anti-Anxiety Drugs Antidepressants Barbiturates Birth. Mescaline Prescription Pain Relievers Quaaludes Sleep Aids Weight-Loss Drugs DRUGS The Straight Facts Weight-Loss Drugs Suellen May Consulting Editor David J. Triggle,