Plantas medicinais como alternativa no combate à obesidade

Abstract

Obesity has become a global public health problem today. The number of obese people has doubled among adults and quadrupled among children and adolescents, according to the WHO. Being overweight is not just an aesthetic issue, but also a risk factor for several chronic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular problems and depression. Adopting new eating habits and lifestyle changes are obvious options, but the success rate tends to be low, leading many people to resort to alternatives such as surgical interventions and drug treatments. Like any and all medicines, the orlistat, for example, can cause diarrhea, while sibutramine can lead to constipation, insomnia, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. On the other hand, medicinal plants and products of natural origin are widely recognized for their safety, as they have fewer side effects and those that presented clinical efficacy profiles were Camellia sinensis L., Garcinia cambodga L., Coleus forskohlii Briq., Capsicum anuum L.. This review compiled the metabolites that were most researched between 2010 and 2025, through an electronic search in the Web of Science database. The plants were grouped by mechanisms of action in order to facilitate teaching and demonstrate how the vast field of phytotherapy can be a good strategy for managing and controlling weight gain. Through this study, it was possible to identify the active compounds that are promising in preventing and combating obesity.