Drug therapy for obesity

Obesity is a common health problem in the United States, and effective trea tment is challenging, Obesity is associated with an increased mortality rat e and risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellit us. Numerous treatments are available for obesity. Behavioral therapy, surg ery and pharmacologic treatment have been used with varying degrees of succ ess, Older anorectic agents have significant side effects and limited benef it, and some have even been withdrawn from the U.S. market because of a pos sible association with cardiovascular complications. The safety of newer ag ents must be extensively evaluated before widespread use is recommended, Th erefore, behavioral therapy, including regular exercise and the development of healthy eating habits, continues to be the best treatment for long-term weight loss.