Pharmacological Treatments and Natural Biocompounds in Weight Management

Abstract

The obesity pandemic is one of society’s most urgent public health concerns. One-third of the global adult population may fall under obese or overweight by 2025, suggesting a rising demand for medical care and an exorbitant cost of healthcare expenditure in the coming years. Generally, the treatment strategy for obese patients is largely patient-centric and needs dietary, behavioral, pharmacological, and sometimes even surgical interventions. Given that obesity cases are rising in adults and children and lifestyle modifications have failed to produce the desired results, the need for medical therapy adjunct to lifestyle modifications is vital for better managing obesity. Most existing or past drugs for obesity treatment target satiety or monoamine pathways and induce a feeling of fullness in patients, while drugs such as orlistat are targeted against intestinal lipases. However, many medications targeted against neurotransmitters showed adverse events in patients, thus being withdrawn from the market. Alternatively, the combination of some drugs has been successfully tested in obesity management. However, the demand for novel, safer, and more efficacious pharmaceutical medicines for weight management does exist. The present review elucidates the current understanding of the available anti-obesity medicines of synthetic and natural origin, their main mechanisms of action, and the shortcomings associated with current weight management drugs.

Immune-boosting effect of Yookgong-dan against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice

“…Studies in this direction aim to increase the concentration of cytokines involved in immune enhancement or boost the activity of immune cells that can directly kill cancer cells [ 28 , 29 ]. These natural substances have demonstrated the ability to non-specifically stimulate various immune cells, promoting overall body homeostasis and reducing the incidence of diseases [ 30 ].…”

Role of lifestyle and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists for weight loss in obesity, type 2 diabetes and steatotic liver diseases

“…Common side effects of combined naltrexone/bupropion treatment comprise gastrointestinal symptoms, seizures, palpitations, transient blood pressure increase, headache, insomnia and xerostomia. 110,113 The COR trials on the weight-reducing effect of naltrexone/bupropion in an obese population revealed a discontinuation rate varying between 11% and 18%. 108,115 The phentermine/topiramate combination also acts on the hypothalamus, reducing hunger and food intake [116][117][118] (Figure 5).…”

“…108 The anticonvulsant topiramate promotes appetite suppression and increases satiety through gammaaminobutyric and glutamate agonism and carbonic anhydrase inhibition. 108,119,120 Because of an additive effect on weight loss, a fixed dose combination is approved for long-term weight loss 108,110 (Figure 5).…”

Obesity and Cancer Rehabilitation for Functional Recovery and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Comprehensive Review

“…In this context, research is now emphasizing the potential role of specific pharmacological management of obese patients [90,91]. In recent years, pharmacological molecules including orlistat, liraglutide, bupropion/naltrexone, cathin, phentermine/topiramate, and lorcaserin were integrated into the management of obesity and were pharmacological treatments approved by the FDA [90,91].…”

“…In this context, research is now emphasizing the potential role of specific pharmacological management of obese patients [90,91]. In recent years, pharmacological molecules including orlistat, liraglutide, bupropion/naltrexone, cathin, phentermine/topiramate, and lorcaserin were integrated into the management of obesity and were pharmacological treatments approved by the FDA [90,91]. While growing interest has been reported in the pharmacological management of obese patients, it should be noted that a lifestyle approach combined with a specific nutritional intervention still remains the key component of obesity treatments.…”