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FAQs
Q: Can medications replace physical
activity or changes in eating habits as a way to lose weight?
A: No. The use of appetite suppressant medications
to treat obesity should be combined with physical activity and improved
diet to lose and maintain weight successfully over the long term.
Q: WilI I regain some weight after I stop taking
appetite suppressant medications?
A: Probably. Most studies show that the majority
of patients who stop taking appetite suppressant medications regain
the weight they had lost. Maintaining healthy eating and physical
activity habits will increase your likelihood of keeping weight
off.
Q: How long will I need to take appetite suppressant
medications to treat obesity?
A: The answer depends upon whether the medication
helps you to lose and maintain weight and whether you have any side
effects. Because obesity is a chronic disease, any treatment, whether
drug or nondrug, may need to be continued for years, and perhaps
a lifetime, to improve health and maintain a healthy weight. There
is little information on how safe and effective appetite suppressant
medications are for more than 1 year of use.
Q: What dosage of appetite suppressant medication
would be right for me?
A: There is no one correct dose for appetite suppressant
medications. Your doctor will decide what works best for you based
on his or her evaluation of your medical condition and response
to treatment.
Q: I only need to lose 10 pounds. Are appetite
suppressant medications appropriate for me?
A: Appetite suppressant medications may be appropriate
for carefully selected patients who are at significant medical risk
because of their obesity. They are not recommended for use by people
who are only mildly overweight unless they have health problems
that are made worse by their weight. These medications should not
be used only to improve appearance.
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