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If you have not responded well to a diet and exercise program, your doctor?s next line of defense may involve drug therapy to help get your weight under control. As of now, the only two drugs officially approved for use to treat weight loss are the appetite suppressant sibutramine (Meridia) and the ?fat blocker? orlistat (Xenical), along with its over- the- counter version, Alli. They can give you a modest weight loss of about 5 to 20 pounds, usually within the first six months of use. (An amount, by the way, that following a healthy exercise and diet plan could provide without negative side effects.) But none will automatically shrink you back into your college jeans or your wedding tux. These diet drugs work only if you also adopt healthier habits, and that still means facing up to the fact that exercise and healthy food must become a part of your life. Let?s look briefly at these options and how they work.
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