OFF LABEL USE OF DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease, which is characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the body. A person is considered obese when their body mass index is equal to or greater than 30kg/m². Overweight is present in 60% of Brazilians. Nowadays, the options of medications for obesity treatment are scarce and do not adapt well to all individuals, because of this, the lack of off label medications appears as an alternative, and should be carried out individually for each patient. The article seeks to describe and analyze the use of the main off label drugs most prescribed for obesity in Brazil, discussing the aspects related to the need of their use through the article review methodology.