Antiobesity drugs before and after bariatric surgery - how to make the best use of them.

Obesity as a chronic, serious, and progressive lifelong disease requires an active approach to treatment. Treatment means necessary adjustment of lifestyle with suitable regular physical activity, including pharmacological or bariatric support. Current pharmacological treatment can be an effective helper in the preparation for the surgical treatment of obesity (bariatric and metabolic operations), and in greater adherence of the patient to the necessary regime changes in life and in preoperative weight reduction. With the lapse of time after surgical treatment, in many cases we indicate the start of pharmacological treatment if the weight increases again. We do not yet know the appropriate types of patients and the exact indications for specific therapeutic modalities - a suitable antiobesity drug or type of bariatric surgery. The best long-term results come from a combination of at least two of these options, along with a lifestyle change. Among modern antiobesity drugs, there are naltrexone-bupropion and liraglutide. Orlistat can be mentioned from older ones.