Why Aren’t Doctors Prescribing Obesity Drugs Proven to Work?

Anyone who has struggled with losing weight and keeping it off knows that it’s a daily battle. But, doctors have also known for decades that people want to be able to find a way to lose the pounds and keep them off, without having to deal with unpleasant side effects in the process. During the 1990s, obesity drugs known as Phentermine and Fenfluramine were combined in the hopes that doctors could finally prescribe products that would work.

Unfortunately, within a few years, the dangerous side effects of those obesity drugs started to become clear, with symptoms like damaged heart valves and pulmonary hypertension proving that the prescriptions were doing more harm than good. As a result, Fenfluramine was removed in an effort to keep people safe. So, is it any wonder that, today, doctors are reluctant to prescribe obesity drugs to patients who need them?

A Need for Prescription Diet Pills That Work

Despite the problems of the past, obesity drugs are needed more than ever. According to NBC News, people throughout the United States are gaining more and more weight every year. In fact, a whopping two-thirds of all Americans can now be considered obese or overweight, and that means that they’re also at an increased risk of developing other health problems, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Doctors understand that prescription diet pills are sometimes necessary, especially when people who are obese have tried dieting and exercising without getting any lasting results. With so many weight loss drugs available, it’s a matter of choosing the one that’s right for a particular patient in order to increase the odds of success without side effects.

Talk to Your Doctor

Once you understand the background associated with the use of weight loss products, it becomes increasingly clear why doctors may be reluctant to prescribe these pills to their patients. However, there are prescriptions available today that are effective and that can certainly help, with a lower risk of side effects. So, if you are obese and you have really been struggling, be sure to consult with your doctor about all of your options, including prescriptions that you can take for a short period of time to jumpstart your weight loss as you work on dieting and exercising.