Medicinal strategies in the treatment of obesity

When prevention fails, medicinal treatment of obesity may become a necessit y Any strategic medicinal development must recognize that obesity is a chro nic, stigmatized and costly disease that is increasing in prevalence. Becau se obesity can rarely be cured, treatment strategies are effective only as long as they are used, and combined therapy may be more effective than mono therapy. For a drug to have significant impact on body weight it must ultim ately reduce energy intake, Increase energy expenditure, or both, Currently approved drugs for long-term treatment of obesity include sibutramine, whi ch inhibits food intake, and orlistat, which blocks fat digestion.