The recommended dose for Xenical is three capsules a day, one before each main meal containing fat. If the meal does not contain fat or a meal is missed, then the dose of Xenical can be omitted. At this time, most insurance companies, including M-CARE, do not cover these medications, but to be certain it is recommended that you check with your insurance company. Since obesity is becoming a bigger public health issue every day, researchers continue to explore other options that may help reduce weight gain. One promising new area of research is the relationship between body weight and the hormone leptin.
Studies show that animals and humans lacking leptin due to a genetic deficiency are obese.
Furthermore, animal studies suggest that increased leptin levels cause weight loss. In one study, people who received daily injections of leptin lost an average of 15 pounds over a six month period, suggesting that leptin may induce weight loss. The main side effects are headaches and rashes, inflammation and other skin problems occurring at the site of injection. Another promising line of research focuses on chemicals in the body that stimulate or inhibit eating. For example, one method is to block neurotransmitters that initiate feeding such as neuropeptide Y5 and Y1 so that one has fewer desires to eat.