There is some good news about the change in how obesity is viewed as a disease by the medical community. It may now be easier for you to have access to medical weight loss and weight management treatments covered by insurance, if you and your doctor feel it is the best choice for you. There are many different prescription diet pills that your doctor can prescribe and find the best one to help you reach a healthy weight. The other news is that now YOU have to educate yourself on these prescriptions so you can be an educated patient. It’s a little extra work on your part, but the payoff is worth it, especially because some past pills have had negative side effects and were taken off the market. Here are 4 prescription diet pills that you should know about. (Talk to your doctor about these drugs so that you have all the info you need since this is just an overview.)
Qsymia
Qsymia is one of the new hybrid prescription diet drugs that have come on the market that combine two or more prescription drugs to create one pill to address obesity. In Qsymia the combination contains phentermine and topiramate. Phentermine is a popular appetite suppressant and topiramate is an anti-convulsing. In combination with diet and exercise, Qysmia is most often prescribed to those with weight issues that are related to diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. The fact that Qysmia includes an anti-convulsant should be a sign that this is a diet drug that is not meant for anyone. There is a risk of potential addiction due to the phentermine ingredients and you should not suddenly stop taking Qysmia as there can be a risk for seizures. Qysmia should not be taken by people with a history of glaucoma or thyroid disorders and should not be taken if you are pregnant or nursing. There is a potential for complications from drug interactions and increased stress on your liver and kidneys so make sure to check with your doctor that this is the right diet pill for you.
Orlistat
Orlistat can be confusing to people as it is also sold under the name Xenical and Alli. The last branding of the drug does not require a prescription due to it being a much smaller dose than is clinically indicated for weight loss. Orlistat works by blocking fat absorption from food. It can block almost 20% of the fats taken in as a meal and the excess fat is passed from the body through regular bowel activity. Orlistat is generally combined with a reduced calorie diet and has a successful track record in morbidly obese patients that are at risk or have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or arteriosclerosis. The main concern with Orlistat beyond the typical ones of drug interaction lies with a unique form of vitamin deficiency that can occur while on the drug. In blocking the fat from being absorbed, Orlistat also blocks the body’s ability to absorb vitamins A, E, D and beta-carotenes from the fat, so a multi vitamin is recommended. Orlistat has a specific warning on it about interaction with many blood thinning drugs.
Xenical
Xenical is one of the brand names that the weight loss drug Orlistat is sold under. Unlike the other branding, Alli, Xenical maintains the clinical recommended dosage of 120mg per dose which is why it requires a prescription and alli does not. The dosage amount in Alli is not suggested to be of benefit to those who are morbidly obese. While Xenical is considered safe to take, there are some risks for side effects involved. Some people have experience hives, sweating, rashes or rapid breathing while taking Xenical. It is recommended that it is taken with a reduced calorie diet and a multi-vitamin as it blocks the natural absorption of some key vitamins from food as well as blocking fat absorption.
Phentermine
Phentermine is one of the best known of the prescribed diet pills and can be hugely effective when combined with a reduced calorie diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. It is a psychostimulant drug and is similar in composition to an amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant and has been extensively studied. One of the biggest cautions about phentermine is that it can have addictive properties for people. The other main concern is that it can interact with other drugs in the same family, many of which are available without a prescription. If you are taking any antihistamine, decongestants or cold medicines be sure to let your doctor know. Phentermine is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.
Green coffee bean extract is made from unroasted coffee beans. The extract is thought to minimize the caffeine content of the bean while preserving the chlorogenic acid levels it contains. It is the chlorogenic acid that has shown promise in early clinical studies in promoting weight loss. The acid acts to increase metabolism and to slow the absorption of fat from food intake. When you combine a supplement with these properties with a controlled diet and exercise plan, you may see an increase in the rate of fat loss. Chlorogenic acid has not been confirmed as enough of an influence on metabolism and fat absorption to promote weight loss without the combined diet and exercise program. Unfortunately, it is often marketed as a wonder supplement that will allow you to eat anything, do nothing and still lose weight. There is no known supplement that can fulfill those claims.
While the three main types of procedures are all priced differently, the overall average cost of any type of bariatric surgery will be about $42,000. The surgery itself can cost from 8 to over 16 thousand dollars, but that is just for the surgery. Bariatric surgery is a term used to refer to the process of preparing for the surgery and the recovery. As a process, this can include extensive testing, therapy in some cases, in-patient recovery, out-patient recovery and follow up procedures. Unlike many surgeries that rely on one type of specialist and a generic support team; Bariatric surgery uses a specialized Bariatric team during the entire process and the whole procedure. This is why it is one of the most expensive procedures.
There are many theories of why the Black American community has such high rates of obesity, none of which have been conclusively proven as true. It is generally accepted that the cause is a combination of culture and genetics. Complicating the issue is that Black Americans don’t simply suffer from just a Black American culture that promotes obesity (there’s a debate on that), they are influenced (as all Americans are ) by the general American culture which also promotes a lack of activity and poor diet. That leads to obesity across ALL racial categories. Here are just some of the major complications that you risk by remaining obese or seriously overweight. Losing weight radically reduces risk of death or health complications from each of these conditions.
Tip #1 – Plan meals ahead of time 
If you were to believe all the advertisements, infomercials and half the websites on the Internet that are connected to a product with green tea, you might think that it is the magical answer to weight loss. It can be hard to separate fact from fiction when it comes to evaluating products and supplements aimed at helping people burn fat because the issue of obesity is highly charged and there is a lot of money made on diet products. The tried and true methods of reducing calories, eating healthy and increasing exercise can seem too hard to maintain, if your schedule is overburdened or your current weight and lifestyle habits make it hard to break through into healthy living. Green tea has been presented as a cure-all of obesity, but are the green tea for weight loss claims true? The answer is a resounding yes and a huge no. Understanding how green tea can assist in weight loss and how to use it to support a weight loss program will help you achieve your goals realistically.
Colonic irrigation therapy is gaining popularity. During the past 10 years, many doctors are hearing from their patients that they have started to receive this treatment for relief of everything from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), chronic gas, nausea, chronic fatigue and as a catchall detoxifying process. Given that the therapy is neither approved or regulated by the FDA for treatment for any disorder or disease, many people are wondering if there is any real benefit from having a colonic done. Some are even saying that the risks are too great, and colonics can create more problems. Colonic therapy has both pros and cons. Neither side has absolute evidence of either opposing belief and both sides claim anecdotal proof. Before you decide to try colonic irrigation, here are some things you should know.
Today’s tip for weight loss on a budget: Tip #28: Feed Your Family Healthy Food and Save Money. One of the main issues I hear from mothers is that they have to be able to feed their whole families while changing to healthier eating habits. Many people think that eating quality food has to be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be if you are strategic and do your research about deals, sales and pricing.
Many people don’t realize that belly fat, also known as visceral fat, is actually different than the rest of your body. The belly fat has been linked to risk for a number of different types of things, from insulin issues, metabolism issues, heart disease, increased cancer risk, and increased type 2 diabetes risk. Even if you’re not overweight, the fat that is in your abdomen can cause a lot of issues.