Pharmacological treatment of obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease resulting in major morbidity and premature death globally. Current pharmacological treatments are not fully acceptable because of their poor safety and efficacy. Obesity is also associated with other serious complications such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease etc. Because of its complex nature there is a need for safe and efficacious long-term pharmacological treatment. One treatment approach is not sufficient to manage complex pathological circuitry of obesity. Recently, several novel targets have been proposed that control energy homeostasis and prevent obesity. Although, newer drugs are years away from clinical use, the hope for research investments made to date is translation into safe and effective pharmacological treatment in the future. The goal of this chapter is to describe the latest strategies of pharmacological treatment that are under development, which may finally be used in future.