The Dietary Drug Xenical: A Breakthrough in Combating Obesity :: Biology Health Essays

The Dietary Drug Xenical: A Breakthrough in Combating Obesity In addition to the negative social drawbacks associated with being obese, there are several physical and health risks. Because of this, the issue of obesity has become a widely discussed topic in the United States, especially during the past twenty years. Experts have estimated that somewhere between one in every four and one in every three Americans are obese, and over 55% of Americans over the age of twenty could be classified as being overweight. This number continues to rise. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a scale that uses height and weight to determine body fat. This figure can then be compared to averages to determine if one is at risk for particular health risks. A BMI over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. The risk factors that are associated with obesity include diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apneas, and even some types of cancers. With all of these health concerns, why is obesity an increasing problem? According to the Colorado Health Net the cost of treating obesity and health-related concerns amounts to about $68 billion per year, not including the $30 billion per year spent on additional weight loss diet programs and special foods. http://www.coloradohealthnet.org./. There are many different viewpoints as to ways to attack the growing problem of obesity. Experts claim to have found an obesity gene, which explains that those who are obese have little control over it http://dmi-www.mc.duke.edu/dfc/gene.html . When the gene is altered in mice, the amount of fat stored in the body varies. Because of the newness of the research and the obvious costs associated with this, it is not a likely procedure. Even though genetic manipulation as a treatment for obesity is years away from practical application, science has attempted to tackle the problem of weight loss in several different ways. One such method uses insulin manipulative drugs in an effort to stabilize blood sugar that would otherwise aid in the storage of fat. Another method uses beta- receptor stimulation to increase thermogenesis. Additionally, appetite is controlled through the use of selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) and other appetite satiating drugs. Special diets and exercise seem to be the most widely practiced method of weight loss, but with obesity being such an enormous health risk, many are seeking additional treatments.