The future of obesity treatment

摘要: Obesity is rapidly becoming a worldwide epidemic, with significant consequences in terms of clinical burden and economic costs treating its complications, so effective new approaches are urgently needed. Development drugs this therapeutic area requires detailed understanding the physiology underlying body weight regulation. Recently several advances have been made area, including identification appetite regulating hormone, leptin, targets central nervous system (CNS), such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) melanocortin-4 receptor. The observation that some humans severe childhood-onset obesity defects these regulatory systems has confirmed their relevance well animal models, search now on to produce which act other CNS glucagon-like peptide I orexins help reduce weight. Other recently identified outside include agents acting inhibit digestive enzymes, specifically pancreatic lipase form orlistat (which licensed for treatment), looking future, possibility altering energy expenditure by modulating newly uncoupling proteins being considered. It should be remembered however, pharmacotherapy unlikely provide 'magic bullet', diet lifestyle changes likely remain cornerstone treatment foreseeable future.