Taking another look at the management of obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a common health condition that is increasing worldwide. Obesity is also a multifactorial condition that affects many physiological systems in the human body. Some include the following: central nervous system (CNS) effects, metabolic effects such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), various effects on the cardiovascular system (CVS), haematological effects and infertility in females. Treatment is suggested to be initiated by first making lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity, decreasing caloric intake of foods, inclusion and accessibility to healthy foods (e.g. fruits, fibre, vegetables) and consuming foods of a lower glycaemic content. In addition to these interventions, pharmacological management strategies can also be considered adjuncts to managing obesity. These medicines (monotherapies/combined products) include amfepramone, cathine (syn D-norpseudoepherine), phendimetrazine, phentermine, orlistat, liraglutide, semaglutide, bupropion and the bupropion-naltrexone combination, and phentermine-topiramate combination. The pharmacist plays an essential role in identifying obese individuals, making suggestions for losing excess weight, suggesting lifestyle modifications, providing information about anti-obesity medicines and dispensing these medicines.