When should weight-loss medications be used?
Although medical treatments (for example Orlistat [Alli, Xenical]) are available, they should only be used by people who have health risks related to obesity. Doctors usually consider medications to be appropriate in patients with a BMI greater than 30 or in those with a BMI of greater than 27 who have other medical conditions (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood cholesterol) that put them at risk for developing heart disease. It is not recommend that medications be used for cosmetic weight loss or to lose small amounts of weight. For more information on weight-loss medications, please refer to the Obesity article.