Compositions and methods for reducing body weight in a subject are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for reducing body weight in a subject comprises: administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising acetaminophen in an amount sufficient for reducing body weight, wherein the acetaminophen is administered orally at a daily dose of 5 mg to 2000 mg, and wherein the composition is formulated in a controlled release formulation. The acetaminophen may be administered alone or in combination with an anti-obesity drug, an appetite suppressant, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) inhibitor, a lipase inhibitor, a onsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a Type II diabetes agents, anti-insomnia agents or a combination thereof.
