By Bea Quirk, Pure Matters The National Institute of Health
estimates 65 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. Out
of the millions Americans who are overweight and go on a diet
each year, many regain all or a part of the weight they lose
within five years. Still, the search for the miracle weight-loss
cure goes on. The reality is that losing weight requires a
change in eating habits and a boost in daily physical activity.
You must burn more calories than you consume. For some people,
however, prescription weight-loss drugs may help them achieve
their weight-loss goal. According to the National Institutes of
Health Weight-control Information Network (WIN), weight-loss
medications should be used only by very obese people or those
who are overweight or obese and have other risk factors for
obesity-related illness. The WIN says that these drugs should be
used along with a diet and exercise program. Prescription
weight-loss drugs are recommended for people who are obese
(those with a body mass index of 30