Abstract

COYOTE-ESTRADA, Ninel  and  MIRANDA-LORA, América Liliana. Pharmacological treatment of child obesity. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2008, vol.65, n.6, pp.547-567. ISSN 1665-1146.

The treatment for obesity is a complex problem and changes in life style not always render satisfactory results. For this reason different drugs have been used to lose weight and some of them have shown to be effective. Among these drugs, are those that suppress appetite, increase energy expenditure and others that modify nutrient absorption or metabolism. Nevertheless, some of them in spite of been approved, have been withdrawn of the market due to their association with serious and adverse effects. Nowadays, from all drugs used to lose weight, only 2 are approved for pediatric age: orlistat and sibutramine. The pharmacological treatment has shown ineffectiveness by itself, because obesity is a multifaceted disease that requires the modification of eating habits, increase in physical activity and/or a behavior therapy. Many questions still remain to be solved: safety of long term-effect, forms to avoid subsequent weight regain after any intervention, effectiveness, optimal time of beginning and duration of treatment. In conclusion, all these issues suggest to keep the pharmacological treatment for patients with associated comorbidities and who have not responded to a structured weight loss program, and counseling to understand the limitations and drug adverse effects, as well as the need to continue with changes in life style.

Keywords : Obesity; treatment; drugs; child.