Figure 7. Mechanism of action of the available medications. Many of the currently used medications for obesity impact the centers for weight regulation in the brain including hypothalamus and the prefrontal cortex, as well as other organs. Abbreviations: NorEpi: norepinephrine; POMC: pro-opiomelanocortin; CART: cocaine- and amphetamine regulated transcript; AGRP: agouti-related polypetide; NPY: neuropeptide Y; GLP1R: glucagon like polypeptide receptor 1; LEPR: leptin receptor; GABA: gamma amino butyric acid; MC4R: melanocyte 4 receptor. Bupropion and Naltrexone are not approved for use in pediatrics for weight loss. The therapeutic preparation of leptin is called metreleptin. Figure created using biorender.com