by Howard Farkas

Created on: March 12, 2009

There are two general types of anti-obesity drugs that are still approved for use, and they have distinct mechanisms by which they can help you lose weight. The first type works by suppressing appetite, and the second works by blocking absorption of fat. Both of these can be effective in the short-term but these are not long-term solutions to the problem of obesity.

The obvious problem with weight loss medications are the physical side-effects. Many former wonder-drugs for obesity, like Phen-Fen, were found later to cause damage to heart valves. When they were introduced, they were considered to be "category killers," which is a marketing term for products that are so successful they are impossible to compete with. Well, they were killers, all right, just not the kind the manufacturers intended. They gave a whole new meaning to the concept of a "magic bullet."

The drugs that suppress appetite are stimulants that are chemically similar to methamphetamine, or Speed, which has the effect of reducing appetite. This is why doctors have long been concerned that using Ritalin in children can stunt their growth, because they don't eat well. That may sound like a good thing if you're an adult and you want to lose weight. Unfortunately, stimulants can also cause nervousness, insomnia, high blood pressure, fatigue and hyperactivity, heart arrhythmias and palpitations. Some of these side effects may be very annoying, others can be life-threatening.

The newer fat-blocking medications, like Alli, interfere with your body's ability to absorb the fat in the foods you eat. Of course, that fat has to go somewhere, and you're not always in control of when that happens, IF you know what I mean AND I think you do. Let's just say that now that this drug is available over-the-counter, you may want to pick up a box of Depends while you're at the Walgreen's. These side effects may not be fatal, but when they occur you may wish you were dead.

However, the real side-effect of weight-loss medication is not physical, it's psychological. The medications lull you into the fantasy that you really don't have to change anything about your lifestyle in order to lose weight. It's like taking medication for high cholesterol so you can continue to eat whatever you want.

When you take drugs to help you lose weight, you may feel like you're getting a free ride, so you never have to learn how to drive. But keep this in mind: that's the mentality of the hitchhiker. He is never really in control of where he goes in life, and can never be sure that the next driver he rides with isn't a serial killer.

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