Offering Weight Loss Medications May Be a Good Strategic Move for a Weight Loss or Bariatric Center

There have been a number of weight loss medications in the news over the past years. And recently, researchers in Brazil and Canada found that three weight loss medications, Roche Holding AG's Xenical, Abbott Laboratories' Meridia, and Sanofi-Aventis S.A.'s Acomplia, can help a person lose from about six-to-ten pounds. But these medications carry some serious associated side effects.

However, despite the side effects, a six-to-ten pound weight loss can sometimes improve a person's health. For example, persons who used Xenical had decreased cholesterol and blood pressure readings, and lower incidents of diabetes. However, about 30% of the Xenical users also experienced side effects, including incontinence.

Persons using Meridia saw reductions in cholesterol numbers, but 20% experienced side effects including higher blood pressure and pulse rates. The Acomplia users saw lower blood pressures and cholesterol levels. However, about 6% of the Acomplia users suffered from mood disorders.

Meridia and Xenical are available in the U.S. And Alli, an over the counter, lower-dose form of Xenical, is now also available in the U.S.

Although the use of these medications can carry side effects, as indicated above, their use can help some persons lose weight. And the use of these medications may lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and reduce the number of diabetes cases.

So bariatric or weight loss centers, that don't include the use of these medications in their arsenal of weight loss tools, might want to consider the use of these medications for those persons who want or need to lose from six-to-ten pounds.

Of course the medical experts in a bariatric or weight loss center would have to decide if the use of weight loss medications is a good idea. These experts would need to review the benefits and the possible side effects associated with the use of these medications, then decide. However, offering these medications to appropriate customers could be a smart strategic move.

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Tags: bariatric center, weight loss center, weight loss medications, strategic move, healthcare