Common Drugs and Their Mechanisms in Obesity Treatment

Abstract

Obesity is a global epidemic currently affecting a third of the adult population and is spreading at an alarming rate. The disease is defined by carrying excess adipose tissue, which enhances pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in a low-level of inflammation throughout the body. Treatment of obesity includes an initial clinical evaluation of the severity of obesity and recommending lifestyle interventions, such as dietary restrictions and physical activity. Increasingly, however, lifestyle modifications are insufficient to counter the mortality and morbidity of obesity, indicating the need for pharmacological interventions. This review outlines commonly used drugs and their mechanisms in obesity as well as highlighting drugs currently in development.