The high prevalence of obesity (> 20% in industrialized countries) and its
serious health risks, cause severe individual and public costs. Pharmacolog
ical interventions are available, such as dietary products and drugs acting
on the absorption of nutrients, the production of hormones regulating the
feeling of hunger and satiety, and the expenditure of energy. The individua
l benefit of these pharmacological interventions depends on the efficiency
of these measures and the side-effects associated with them. The afflicted
patient, and very often even the treating physician, are unable to evaluate
the risk / benefit ratio of these drugs for the individual patient. This a
rticle describes the possibilities and limitations of pharmacological inter
ventions to treat obesity and gives information on the indications for diet
ary, pharmaco logical and surgical interventions.