Why can't an overweight person get prescription diet pills?

[1000kilowatts]

If you're overweight and not obese, why can't you get those pills, too? Shouldn't losing the weight be the main focus? So preventing being obese instead of having to wait until you get there to get help from medicaiton?

[KraftMan]

If your body doesn't have enough mass, your risk of strong side effects is higher. THese pills come with risk. It's just if you have obesity, then the risk is lower than the benefit from reducing yoru body weight which then reduces your risk of other health problems.

[Whirlybird]

They're dangerous unless your body is big enough to handle their effects.

[MeSarah]

They're dangerous unless your body is big enough to handle their effects.

I agree. I think you need a certain mass to your body to be able to keep the side effects manageable. Otherwise their risk is higher than their benefit.