[Obesity pharmacological treatment]

In this clinical observation, we make a small summary of the current state of pharmacological treatment of obesity. The interest in the use of drugs in the treatment of obesity has grown in recent years, upon our knowledge of the biological basis of obesity having increased, and also because non-pharmacological treatments have not succeeded stopping the constant increase of obesity incidence in western countries. Only two drugs are currently approved by the European Agency of the Drug and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, United States) for the treatment of long-term obesity: sibutramine and orlistat. Pharmacological treatment of obesity should be considered in obese patients (BMI > 30) or overweight (BMI > 27) in presence of comorbidities as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipemias (7.8); this must not be used as an isolated treatment but together with other basic therapies: diet, physical exercise and psychological support.