The incidence of teen obesity is dramatically increasing. Aside from the genetic factors, obesity in teens is usually blamed on poor lifestyle and eating habits. This problem is not only happening in North America but other countries are also worried about the increasing number in their young population who are now considered as obese. Obesity in young kids could bring other health related problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart and liver diseases, and psychological problems.

Teen Obesity and Surgery

A report by Sharon Kirkey of the Postmedia News revealed that teen obesity is a serious concern. Doctors are worried of the possible complications that could be caused by excessive weight. Health experts headed by Dr. Thomas Inge and his group recently published on the Pediatrics Journal their findings and position on weight loss surgery for adolescents.

According to a paediatrician, obesity is not anymore considered as an old person’s disease. “We see these kids, and we’re doing blood tests on them regularly and we’re coming up with liver abnormalities, sugar abnormalities, cholesterol abnormalities. We’re seeing this not only in teenagers, but in pre-teens. They already have fatty livers.” said Dr Stan Lipnowski who is a member of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Healthy Active Living Committee.

Rate of Obesity in Children Alarming

Dr. Stan Lipnowski said that the rate of obesity in children almost tripled in the last 25 years. In Canada alone, at least 26% of children ages 2 to 17 are considered overweight or obese. The incidence of morbid obesity is also increasing. “Some of these kids get short of breath just walking across the street, they’re so heavy,” the doctor from Winnipeg said.

Morbidly obese teens usually suffers from high blood pressure, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, joint pain and Blount’s disease or the severe bowing of one or both legs. Added to this are the psychological effects on the individual such as depression and anxiety.

Weight Loss Surgery: Is it the Best Option?

Adults who underwent weight loss surgery have higher success rate based on surveys. A study in McGill University showed that obese adults who chose bariatric surgery reduced mortality rate by 89 percent compared to those obese individuals who did not opt for surgery. Bariatric surgery also reduces the risk of getting cancer up to 80 percent. However, experts are wary if these figures are also true for adolescents.

They agree that weight loss surgery is an effective method in treating obesity but the rate of its effectiveness on young individuals has still to be validated. “I think if you’ve exhausted all other measures, you may be left with nothing but bariatric surgery,” said Dr Lipnowski. “We don’t know if we can extrapolate the results from adults to kids. What’s the success rate going to be like two, three years from now, or five or 10? We don’t have that type of follow up in adolescents, it hasn’t been around that long,” he added.

Bariatric Surgery Comes with Health Risks

The common risks involved in undergoing a weight loss surgery is post-operation bleeding, wound infections, blood clots and intestinal leaks. The surgery could also result to vitamin deficiencies, malnutrition, anemia, and prematurely weak bones. There is also no guarantee that the pouches inserted inside the stomach will not stretch or the staples will not get loose. There are also some reports that bariatric surgery on teens can cause neural tube defects on their babies. And if improperly done it could result to death.

Experts agree that weight loss surgery for teens, whether the adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en Y gastric bypass, should only be the last option. If other methods of treatment fail and there are other health conditions that must be addressed immediately, bariatric surgery will be recommended.

Phentermine is the popular appetite suppressant in the medical genre of phnethylamines and amphetamines. It is the shortened term for “phenyl-tertiary-butylamine”. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use the short term weight reduction treatment of obese patients It is used with the combination of the right exercise, diet and other behavioral modifications.

This weight loss medicine is typically prescribed to patients who have an increased medical risk due to their weight and this works by assisting the release of certain chemicals in the brain that controls a person’s appetite.

Phentermine stimulates the adrenal glands in the hypothalamus portion of the brain to produce norepinephrine. This is a neurotransmitter in the brain or a chemical messenger that triggers a “fight-or-flight response” in the patient’s mind that helps in reducing the feeling of hunger. The drug also works outside the brains. It releases adrenaline causing fat cells or epinephrine that breaks down stored fat which the end result is the reduction of hunger. With clinically significant doses, the drug induces the release of dopamine and serotonin which has a lesser effect as that of norepinephrine.

Dosage Prescribed by Doctor

Phentermine should be taken exactly in the doses prescribed by the doctor and combined with regular exercise and modifications in the patient’s diet and lifestyle. Do not take the drug in larger or smaller amounts than recommended. Do not consume the drug longer than it was prescribed. Typically, this is a drug taken to a maximum of 12 weeks. To avoid adverse reactions, the patient must strictly follow the doctor’s instructions.

Best Time to Take Phentermine for More Efficient Weight Loss

The best time to take the medicine is during the day on an empty stomach the moment that you wake up. It is highly recommended to take the drug before eating breakfast or around 2 hours after breakfast. Since the drug can cause disruptions in your sleeping patterns, it is recommended that it is taken early within the day not later than 6 in the evening or at least 10 hours before you go to sleep.

If you skipped a dose, take the medicine as soon as you remember. But if the next dosage is very near to the time that you remembered, forget about taking the extra dosage to make up for the skipped one.

Normal Dosage of Phentermine

Bottom line is, do not take the dosage more than it was prescribed. The normal phentermine dosage recommended for adults below the age of 60 is 15 to 37.5 milligrams per day. Adults above 60 years old are given reduced dosages. The drug is not recommended to be given to patients 16 years old and below.

Phentermine is a substance that has the tendency to cause habit forming effects. Do not suddenly stop taking the dosage or you might experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms or if you feel that the medication is not working properly, it is best to consult your doctor. And of course, follow the best time to take Phentermine to avoid any complications.

Some Precautions Before Using Phentermine for Weight Loss

There are certain conditions wherein the patient should avoid using Phentermine with other drugs. It is best to seek a doctor’s consultation first to get their approval before consuming the drug. Phentermine should not be taken by the patient if they are pregnant, wants to have a baby, has allergies to other drugs, are taking other prescription medicines or have just consumed alcohol because these can lead to serious side effects.

Becoming pregnant is one of the most wonderful things that could ever happen to a woman. However, some women are afraid to become pregnant because of the difficulties associated with pregnancy. Usually, pregnancy can lead to other medical conditions such as gestational diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity. The possibility of getting or aggravating these conditions becomes higher because of genetic factors.

Obesity Common Problem During Pregnancy

Obesity, for example, is a common problem of most pregnant women or women who wants to get pregnant. Doctors advise women to plan their pregnancy and to adopt proper spacing to safeguard the health of the mother and most importantly the baby. Maintaining good health before, during, and after pregnancy is a must to avoid health related problems such as obesity.

However, being overweight or obese should not hinder women to bear a child. There are a lot of interventions or even medications that can help eliminate the aforementioned health risks. Eating the right kinds of foods is still the simplest solution to overweight or obese women who want to get pregnant or are pregnant. Living a healthy lifestyle will not only make a woman fit but it will also make the baby healthy inside the womb.

Should I Take Weight Loss Medications?

I am obese and I want to get pregnant. Can I take weight loss drugs such as Phentermine? This is a common question for a lot of women. It is a fact that Phentermine is an effective weight loss drug that has been in the market for decades. But should we recommend it to women who want to get pregnant? The answer is yes. Getting back to your normal weight is a must if you want to conceive.

If your body mass index is more than 30, that means you are already an obese, taking Phentermine will solve your problem. Ask your doctor about this medication if you want to trim that extra weight so that when you are ready to conceive, you are assured that obesity related complications will not happen.

I’m Already Pregnant, Can I Take Phentermine?

If you are already pregnant, gaining weight is inevitable. But if you feel that you are gaining more weight than what a pregnant woman should have, consult your doctor. Don’t just take any medication especially weight loss pills or follow a strict diet for weight loss. You should not restrict intake of necessary nutrients as it may also affect your baby. This is the time where you must eat nutritious foods to nourish your baby inside the womb.

Phentermine is an appetite suppressant drug. If you take it while pregnant, the amount of food intake will be lessened which will also affect the intake of necessary nutrients for the growing fetus. Doctors usually recommend a well balanced diet to avoid getting more weight. Starving yourself during pregnancy is a big no no. The Organization of Teratology Information Services also recommends that weight loss initiative should not be done during pregnancy.

Needs More Studies on Phentermine use During Pregnancy

Another reason why ob-gynes would not recommend Phentermine is the insufficient clinical studies on the use of Phentermine on pregnant women. There is also little information if it has direct negative effects on babies such as physical abnormalities. Breast-feeding mothers are also discouraged to take Phentermine because the weight loss drug can be passed on to babies.