title: Use of prescription weight loss pills among U.S. adults in 1996-1998.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pharmacotherapy is recommended for the treatment of obese persons with a body mass index of 30 kg/m(2) or higher or a body mass index of at least 27 kg/m(2) plus an obesity-related comorbid condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of use of prescription weight loss pills in the United States in 1996-1998.
  
  
  METHODS
  1998 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationally representative telephone survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  139 779 adults 18 years of age and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported pill use for 1996-1998, body mass index (current and before pill use), age, sex, and race or ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2-year prevalence of pill use was 2.5% (95% CI, 2.1% to 2.9%), or 4.6 million U.S. adults. Use was higher in women than in men (4.0% vs. 0.9%, respectively) and highest among Hispanic respondents (3.2%). Of pill users, 25% were not overweight (body mass index < 27 kg/m(2) before using pills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nearly 5 million U.S. adults used prescription weight loss pills in 1996-1998. However, one quarter of users were not overweight, suggesting that weight loss pills may be inappropriately used, especially among women, white persons, and Hispanic persons.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop K26, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. LDK7@cdc.gov
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Serdula
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents