ASHP therapeutic position statement on the safe use of pharmacotherapy for obesity management in adults. Developed by the ASHP Commission on Therapeutics and approved by the ASHP Board of Directors on April 23, 2001.

Obesity is a chronic disease that may require pharmacologic treatment in select patients at high risk in whom lifestyle modifications alone were unsuccessful. Although long-term therapy may be indicated in these patients, long-term safety and efficacy data for the current agents are not available. Patients should be informed of all known risks of therapy and, together with their health care providers, carefully consider the risks and benefits of treatment. Patients should be informed that pharmacotherapy has been proven to produce modest weight loss (10% weight loss) when used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications. The health benefits of modest weight loss should be stressed, and lifestyle changes should be continuously encouraged. Pharmacists can take an active role in the management of obesity by assisting in the selection of weight-loss agents and providing appropriate counseling and monitoring to ensure safe and effective drug therapy outcomes for patients using prescription and nonprescription products. Further evaluation of current and future therapies will be necessary to determine the role of long-term pharmacotherapy for the management of obesity.