Prescription Medications to Help Treat Obesity & Being Overweight
Staying healthy is hard in this day and age, especially since we have such busy lives that leave little time for the gym or cooking healthy meals. It doesn’t help that we are more sedentary than ever, with many of us still working from home. Plus, it seems that there are temptations everywhere we turn.
Even if you are able to avoid extra helpings at dinner and take part in regular exercise, sometimes a healthy lifestyle just isn’t enough to stay in shape. Some people have medical conditions or injuries that make it difficult for them to stay active. Others have genetics that make it difficult to lose weight.
If you are overweight and haven’t been able to slim down, you shouldn’t beat yourself up. Not being able to lose weight is no reflection on you as a person. If losing weight was easy, everyone would be able to do it! Luckily, there are prescription weight loss pills that can help you lose weight and keep it off.
What Are Weight Loss Pills?
The weight loss industry is worth billions, if not more, because so many people worldwide struggle with their weight. Every week it seems there’s a new fad diet, exercise regime, or herbal supplement bursting onto the scene claiming to help you lose weight fast.
While diet and exercise are important to maintaining a healthy weight, there are no quick fixes to losing weight. It’s often a long process that requires dedication and will power to achieve. Any medication that claims to help you lose belly fat in a short amount of time isn’t being truthful.
However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t effective weight loss medications available on the market. The most popular weight loss pills in the UK are Orlistat, a doctor approved prescription treatment used alongside a healthy lifestyle to help people lose weight and keep it off.
Weight Loss Pills That Actually Work: Orlistat
Approved by the NHS, Orlistat (also known as Xenical) is a proven weight loss treatment that works by preventing your body from absorbing about one third of the fat you eat. The fat you don’t digest will simply pass through your system before being flushed out in your poo.
Orlistat aren’t weight loss pills that require no exercise. You will need to eat a healthy, balanced diet and stay active whilst taking Orlistat or it won’t be effective.
A calorie controlled diet is important to weight loss and to Orlistat’s effectiveness, but you shouldn’t skip meals or starve yourself. Instead, eat three meals per day that are made up of fruits, veg, and healthy grains and carbs.
Orlistat is usually taken alongside each of your three meals. If you missed a dose, wait until your next meal to take the next dose. Try to avoid snacking and eating too much dietary fat. It’s healthy to have some fats in your diet, especially healthy fats, but they should be eaten in moderation. Orlistat can only prevent a certain amount of fat from being digested so if you regularly eat too much fat, the medication won’t be able to bypass enough of it for you to lose weight.
Examples of Healthy Fats:
. Olive oil
. Avocados
. Nuts
. Fish
. Flaxseed
When taken correctly, Orlistat can be very effective in weight loss, especially for people who struggle to lose weight. Studies have shown that after 12 weeks, 60% of people taking Orlistat lost at least 5% of their body fat. After 12 months, 60% of these people went on to lose a total of 10% of their body weight.
Who Can Take Orlistat?
Orlistat is a prescription-only medicine for people who are significantly overweight or obese. It isn’t advised for people who only need to lose a small amount of weight. Instead, it is prescribed to those with a BMI over 30, or a BMI of 28-29 if they have or are at risk of having a weight loss related disease like type 2 diabetes. Your BMI, or Body Mass Index, is a number that is determined by your height and weight.
If you are under 18, pregnant, or breastfeeding you should speak to a doctor about whether Orlistat is right for you. If you have malabsorption issues or cholestasis, you may not be able to take Orlistat. Some medications may also preclude you from being able to take it, including:
. Some HIV or AIDs treatments
. Levothyroxine
. Warfarin
. Certain epilepsy medications
Let your doctor know if you are taking birth control pills as Orlistat may impact their effectiveness, putting you at risk of an unwanted pregnancy.
Orlistat Side Effects
Not everyone will experience side effects whilst taking Orlistat. Side effects are most common when you first start taking the medication, but should start to subside the longer you take it as your body adapts.
Common Orlistat Side Effects
. Headache
. Stomach pain
. More frequent bowel movements
. Oily or runny poo
. Flatulence
. Irregular menstrual cycle
. Tiredness
It’s unlikely you’ll experience all of the above mentioned side effects. Most people who have taken orlistat and have side effects say that their symptoms are fairly mild and don’t discourage them from continuing their treatment.
However, if you have persistent symptoms or have symptoms that are worrying you, contact your GP or pharmacist for advice. You should stop taking Orlistat if you experience any signs of an allergic reaction and seek medical help right away.
Buy Weight Loss Pills in the UK
Orlistat is only available on prescription, but you don’t always need to see a GP to have it prescribed to you. The highly trained pharmacists at Pharmacy Planet are able to prescribe a wide range of medications, including prescription medications to help treat obesity and being overweight.
For the best pills to lose belly fat, visit Pharmacy Planet. With us, you can buy weight loss pills online in the UK and have them shipped hassle-free right to your door. Visit our website or contact us today to find out how Pharmacy Planet can help you lose weight once and for all.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925