Slimming drugs
Slimming drugs - a group of drugs, the action of which is aimed at reducing body weight, normalizing the metabolic processes of the body. In most cases, drugs for weight correction are used in a complex way, complementing the effect of a dietary diet and active physical activity. The use of any of the drugs for weight correction should be agreed with a nutritionist after undergoing a comprehensive examination in order to avoid side effects.
Slimming drugs: classification, basic principles of drug action
Slimming drugs are a means of pharmacological weight correction. Today, there are many products on the pharmaceutical market that help to normalize body weight. It is possible to choose the correct, most effective drug for weight correction only after establishing the cause of the excess weight.
The determining factors in the development of obesity are:
- Genetics;
- Social status of a person;
- Psychological stress and chronic depression;
- Metabolic disease;
- Hormonal imbalance;
- Improper diet and overeating, even with a healthy diet.
Slimming drugs are not used as the main remedy for overweight. The problem of obesity (excess weight) requires an integrated approach and, first of all, elimination of the causes of its occurrence, otherwise even the most effective methods and medications for losing weight will be ineffective.
All corrective drugs are classified according to the following principles:
- By application - internal and external (creams, gels that promote the breakdown of subcutaneous fats);
- According to the principle of action - appetite suppressants, drugs that prevent the absorption of fats from food, drugs that normalize metabolic processes;
- By mode of action and effect - anorexic, food substitutes and nutraceuticals, cleansing drugs, fat burners.
Anorexic drugs are weight loss drugs with anorexigenic effect. The drugs affect the brain centers responsible for the feeling of satiety, due to which the patient's body is tuned to eat less food. The use of weight loss products of this kind is most comfortable for the patient, as they contribute to the development of a new nutritional culture.
Food substitutes or nutraceuticals are used in combination with a therapeutic diet. The effect is achieved by replacing one or more meals with weight loss drugs. Nutraceuticals contain a minimum amount of medicinal substances, a balanced complex of vitamins, micro- and macroelements. The composition of such drugs includes fiber, which, swelling in the stomach, creates a satiety effect.
The principle of action of fat burners is based on increasing heat production, which helps to activate metabolism, suppress appetite, and break down fats. However, such weight loss products have the desired effect only with appropriate physical activity and a diet.
Slimming cleansers promote weight loss through a mild laxative and diuretic effect. Often, such preparations are based on natural ingredients (lingonberry leaves, senna grass). Such drugs, subject to all the rules of use, are the safest and easiest to use, and the effect becomes noticeable almost immediately. However, with the uncontrolled use of cleansing drugs, proteins are washed out of the body and dehydrated.
Slimming Medicines: Advantages and Disadvantages
The effectiveness of each of the drugs for weight loss entirely depends on the correct selection of the drug in each individual case, as well as on the reasons that provoke excess weight.
The main benefits of slimming drugs are:
- Ease of use;
- Efficiency;
- No need for physical activity.
However, along with the obvious advantages, pharmacological drugs for weight loss have the following disadvantages:
- Serious side effects;
- The fragility of the results achieved - weight loss drugs cannot be used for a long time. If during the period of using drugs and losing weight a person does not develop a new food culture, then the risk of re-gaining weight is high;
- Contraindications that significantly limit the possibility of using drugs, which mainly include various diseases, pregnancy, lactation, age, individual intolerance.
Despite the fact that most weight loss products are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, for their safety and effectiveness, nutritionists highly discourage self-treatment of excess weight with pharmacological agents. Uncontrolled use of drugs for weight loss can significantly disrupt the functioning of body systems.
The most effective slimming drugs: sibutramine and orlistat
Among the most effective drugs for weight loss are drugs of central action (anorexics) and peripheral action (inhibitors of gastrointestinal lipases).
The most effective centrally acting slimming drug is sibutramine. This drug inhibits the reuptake of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin, increasing the feeling of fullness, which helps to reduce the amount of food consumed and the formation of correct eating habits. It also helps to activate the sympathetic nervous system and increase energy expenditure. Sibutramine is non-addictive, non-addictive, and has no neurotoxic effect. When taking this drug, many patients report the following side effects:
- Increased blood pressure;
- Heart rhythm disorder;
- Dizziness;
- Nausea, vomiting.
The most effective peripheral slimming drug is orlistat. This drug blocks the action of pancreatic lipase, which helps to reduce the absorption of fats in the intestine by up to 30%. This effect creates a calorie deficit that promotes weight loss. Orlistat helps to reduce and maintain the achieved result, normalize lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
Slimming drugs: patient reviews, doctors' recommendations
When choosing drugs for weight loss, patient reviews will make it possible to understand what side effects are most often manifested when using a particular drug, and also partially determine the effectiveness of the drug. When choosing drugs for weight loss, patient reviews cannot become a key factor. Preparations for weight correction are used only by agreement with the attending physician after undergoing a full examination and excluding conditions and diseases that are contraindications to its use.
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