Obesity means having too much body fat. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. The weight may come from muscle, bone, fat and/or body water. Both terms mean that a person’s weight is greater than what’s considered healthy for his or her height.
Obesity occurs over time when you eat more calories than you use. The balance between calories-in and calories-out differs for each person. Factors that might tip the balance include your genetic makeup, overeating, eating high-fat foods and not being physically active.
Being obese increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and some cancers. If you are obese, losing even 5 to 10 percent of your weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases.
We are bombarded with ads for over the counter medication that promises us lean muscular bodies with no fat. Despite claims by manufacturers, the use of over the counter products alone does not cause weight loss. Herbal weight loss products or preparations called “fat burners” are even more misleading. These products may contain a combination of ma huang (a botanical source of ephedrine), white willow (a source of salicin), and/or guarana or kola nut (a source of caffeine). These agents are stimulants, which theoretically increase the metabolism and help the body break down fat. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that they are effective for weight loss. In addition, ma huang has been linked to serious side effects such as heart attacks, seizures, and death. Chromium also is a popular ingredient in weight loss products, but there is no evidence that chromium has any effect on weight loss.
Weight loss teas contain strong botanical laxatives (Senna, cascara sagrada) and diuretics (Rhamnus purshiana) cause diarrhea and loss of water from the body. Diarrhea and water loss lead to the depletion of sodium, potassium and can lead to dehydration. Although an individual’s weight may decrease, the loss is fluid and is only temporary. Moreover, low sodium and potassium levels may cause abnormal heartbeats and can even lead to death.
Guar gum preparations have also been promoted as a weight loss agent. Guar gum thought to work by leading to a feeling of fullness early in the meal. It has not been scientifically proven, and has been associated with abdominal pain, gas and diarrhea.
In 2006 a French company Sanofi-Aventis has been given approval to market its new obesity treatment. Rimonabant is the first selective CB1 receptor blocker to be approved for use anywhere in the world. In Europe, it is indicated for use in conjunction with diet and exercise for patients with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, or patients with a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2 with associated risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia.
Consistent with the one-year data, the results showed that overweight and obese patients taking Rimonabant 20mg per day achieved significant reductions in body weight, waist circumference (an indicator of abdominal obesity) and improved lipid and glycaemic profiles compared with placebo recipients. Rimonabant also had a significant impact on metabolic CVD risk factors, greater than that expected by weight loss alone.
All of the over the counter products discussed above are not considered drugs and are therefore not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, there is little information on their effectiveness or safety.