Medical Alternatives to Weight Loss Surgery Washington DC

Weight loss surgery Washington DC is one method by which a lot of folks who are obese choose to decrease body mass index (BMI).  But, what about folks who are afraid of having a risky surgical procedure?  About 5% of Bariatric surgery procedures DC involve serious complications up to, and including, death.  In addition, some folks who are extremely obese and need to lose weight the most often have complicating factors like heart disease or breathing problems that make them poor surgical candidates overall.  For some of these individuals, prescription weight loss drugs may be a part of the answer.

Pharmaceutical Intervention Instead of Bariatric Surgery DC

There is never one medical intervention that is the be-all-end-all in weight loss.  Even as technology and medical procedures advance, the basic formula for weight loss remains the same:  eat less and move more.  Medical interventions like Bariatric surgery options Washington DC, which are available through http://www.medstarwashington.org/, and prescription weight loss drugs are simply more tools to put in the weight reduction toolbox.  That is not to say they cannot be valuable tools.

So, what about prescription weight loss drugs as an alternative to surgery?  There are a few choices out there at this time.  Typically, the prescription of these drugs is limited to individuals whose body mass index (BMI) exceeds 30, or those whose BMI is over 27 and occurring along with a co-morbid condition like high blood pressure or diabetes. 

Prescription weight loss drugs may not be appropriate for those who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breast feeding.

One of the most popular weight loss drugs currently available is called Orlistat, or Xenical as a generic.  This drug is available either with or without a prescription.  As an over-the-counter product, it is called Alli.  Alli contains half of the dose of Xenical.  It works by blocking a certain amount of fat absorption. This type of weight loss drug has some side effects, which may include digestive disturbances like passing gas or loose bowel movements.  People who take this drug should use dietary supplements because some nutrient absorption will be lost along with fat absorption.  Following a diet that is less than 30% fat while taking this medication will help it to work best.