New Medications on the way for Obesity

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I'm not one to promote weight loss medications. Yes, I know they can help you lose weight, but when you stop the medication will you gain it back? Some people are pretty desperate when it comes to weight loss, and your doctor usually will prescribe meds first, of course, if your doctor knows your history then maybe you need to silence and take his advice.

About one year ago two new drugs hit the market, Belviq and Qsymia. These two were the first in more then a decade. Qsymia has had mixed reviews with about 60% of users having positive results.
Belvig, on the other hand has less side effects but less than 50% have had positive results. These haven't been the game changers that the industry hoped for.

A couple of new ones will probably gain FDA approval this year. Contrave reduces appetite and boosts metabolism. Victoza, a drug used to treat type 2 Diabetes, is available right now. It also helps patients lose weight. Dr. Hussain, a professor at the University of Houston, College of Pharmacy, in the future drugs will target the metabolism instead of the brain. He believes that reving up the metabolism is the answer.  There's a long way to go with the research and in another 5 years we might have something. There's no magic pill that will melt fat away, but with exercise and a proper diet along with the right medication you can see results.

Doctors are also working on new surgical procedures that are easier and less-invasive. A device called a Orbera balloon may get FDA approval this year and a similar device called a Reshape balloon is in the pipeline. Both are inserted through the mouth and expand in the stomach. This will limit the amount of food a person can consume. The balloons are left in for 6 months and then removed and the stomach returns to full capacity. So the question is "Will you continue to eat the smaller portions?", good question.

Endoluminal sleeves will be available in 2015. This sleeve goes over the small intestine restricting the food that the small intestine can absorb, but it must be removed in six months so it's hard to gage long-term results. Other surgical procedures are being tested and must still must be approved. All of the above solutions depend on the patient changing their lifestyle.

I see most of the weight loss drugs and surgical procedures as short-term solutions and the weight will be regained if the patient returns to their old lifestyle.

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