La obesidad y su tratamiento farmacológico. Revisión Sistemática

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat. It has gained significance due to the large number of individuals affected and the consequences it entails. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that between 1975 and 2016, the global prevalence of this disease tripled, and it is currently one of the most frequently observed conditions in medical consultations (1). A crucial aspect of managing this condition, in addition to physical exercise and diet, is the use of various medications developed to help patients achieve their weight loss goals and improve their quality of life. As such, the FDA and the EMA have approved a list of highly effective medications for the treatment of obesity, including phentermine/topiramate, naltrexone/bupropion, liraglutide, semaglutide, orlistat, among others (6). Objective: To analyze the pharmacological treatments for obesity currently in use through a systematic review. Methods: This research follows the PRISMA 2020 guidelines for conducting a systematic review, using information collected from SciELO, Scopus, Redalyc, Dialnet, and PubMed, together with the Zotero bibliographic manager. Results: Benefits include reductions in weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid levels, glycated hemoglobin, and inflammatory markers. Conclusions: The use of medications is an effective weight loss strategy that should always be accompanied by exercise, healthy diet, and behavioral therapy. Keywords: obesity, drugs, treatment