Overweight and obesity: pharmacotherapeutic considerations.

PURPOSE

This article reviews current trends for using pharmacotherapy in combination with other weight loss modalities and offers points for consideration by clinicians in practice.

DATA SOURCES

Selected evidence-based articles and government websites.

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacotherapy as a strategy for managing overweight, obese, and extremely obese individuals remains controversial. Risk versus benefit and overall safety of prescription drugs for weight loss management remains a primary focus for consideration among clinicians and a viable topic for evidence-based outcomes research.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Overweight and obesity are well accepted as critical risk factors and predictors of morbidity and mortality in individuals of all ages from childhood to senescence. In the United States, overweight and obesity exist in epidemic proportions. It is critical that primary care providers be knowledgeable about pharmacologic factors related to obesity.