title: Overweight and obesity: pharmacotherapeutic considerations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reviews current trends for using pharmacotherapy in combination with other weight loss modalities and offers points for consideration by clinicians in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selected evidence-based articles and government websites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pharmacotherapy as a strategy for managing overweight, obese, and extremely obese individuals remains controversial. Risk versus benefit and overall safety of prescription drugs for weight loss management remains a primary focus for consideration among clinicians and a viable topic for evidence-based outcomes research.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obesity are well accepted as critical risk factors and predictors of morbidity and mortality in individuals of all ages from childhood to senescence. In the United States, overweight and obesity exist in epidemic proportions. It is critical that primary care providers be knowledgeable about pharmacologic factors related to obesity.
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University School of Nursing, Stony Brook, New York, USA. nancy.balkon@stonybrook.edu
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balkon
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balkon
authors.forename: Bruce S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Zitkus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D001067:Appetite Depressants