SANCTUARY
  • Open Book
    • Featured Interviews >
      • ARCHIVES: 2023-2024 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2022 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2021 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2020 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2019 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2018 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2017 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2016 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • More Interviews >
      • Archives : Interviews 2022-2023
      • Archives: Interviews 2020-2021
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2019
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2018
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2017
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2016
    • Autism Awareness 2024 >
      • Autism Awareness 2023
      • Autism Awareness 2022
      • Autism Awareness 2021
      • Autism Awareness 2020
      • Autism Awareness 2019
      • Autism Awareness 2018
  • Blank Canvas
    • Featured Artists >
      • 2024 Featured Artist Updates
      • Featured Artists Archives: 2023-2024
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2022
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2021
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2020
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2019
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2018
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2017
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2016
    • Selected Works >
      • Art Times Library
    • CULTURE CRAWL >
      • Archives: Culture Crawl
    • 2024 Focus on Youth >
      • 2023 Focus on Youth
      • 2022 Focus on Youth
      • 2021 Focus on Youth
      • 2020 Focus on Youth
      • 2019 Focus on Youth
      • 2018 Focus on Youth
      • 2017 Focus on Youth
      • 2016 Focus on Youth
    • 2024 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives >
      • 2023 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2022 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2021 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2020 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2019 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2018 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2017 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
  • Body & Spirit
    • HEALTHY BODY >
      • Archives: Healthy Body
    • HEALTHY MIND >
      • Archives: Healthy Mind
    • Nutrition & Exercise >
      • LAURA'S CORNER TABLE
      • Archives: Nutrition & Exercise
    • Personal Safety >
      • Archives: Personal Safety
    • ALTERNATIVE THERAPY >
      • Archives: Alternative Therapy
    • NAVIGATING RELATIONSHIPS >
      • Archives: Navigating Relationships
  • INSPIRED LIFE
    • TRAVEL JOURNAL >
      • ARCHIVES: TRAVEL JOURNAL
    • YOUR MONEY & BUSINESS >
      • ARCHIVES: MONEY & BUSINESS
    • CAREER JOURNEY >
      • Archives: CAREER JOURNEY
    • SMART STEPS >
      • ARCHIVES: Smart Steps
    • TRAILBLAZERS >
      • ARCHIVES: Trailblazers
  • GUEST ROOM
    • Community Compass >
      • Annual Community Project
      • Reader Ramble
      • TEAM TALK
      • SPONSOR CORNER
    • ASK AN EXPERT >
      • ARCHIVES: ASK AN EXPERT
    • KINDNESS & KARMA ARCHIVES
    • We Hear You >
      • Celebrated Readers
      • TALKBACK
    • Book Giveaway 2024 >
      • Book Giveaway 2024 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2023 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2022 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2021 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2020 Winners' Circle
    • Submit Your Work
    • Surveys
  • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Sponsor Ad Packages
    • Meet Our Sponsors
    • Events-Services-Specials
    • Sanctuary Events
    • Coffee & Conversation
  • About
    • Myrna's Musings
    • Our Team
    • Support Us
    • CONTACT US
  • Store

Healthy Body


Here’s The ‘Skinny’ on Weight-Loss Meds
December 2024

Picture
By Melissa Chefec

It’s all over the news! People who have long struggled with obesity are turning to prescription medications to help them control their appetite and melt away dozens or more extra pounds. But anyone considering weight-loss medications should understand the basics of how they work as well as the pros and cons, says Denise Pate, M.D., an internist and medical director at Medical Offices of Manhattan.
 
New CDC population data from 2023 shows that in 23 states more than one in three adults (35%) has obesity. Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. Currently, at least one in five adults (20%) in each U.S. state is living with obesity. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, one in eight people in the world were living with obesity. This is a significant increase from 1990, when adult obesity rates were much lower.
Page Sponsor:
Picture

It's also important to note that various studies and polls have found that women are more likely to use weight-loss drugs than men.
“Research demonstrates that weight-management drugs work best when combined with all the other things people should do to take care of their health, regardless of size.” ~ Denise Pate, M.D.

​​Weight-loss medications are meant to help those with obesity or overweight, especially if they have related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, according to Pate. But it’s also important that they’ve first attempted to lose weight through lifestyle behaviors, such as physical activity and eating healthy foods.
 
“Medications can’t replace exercise or diet measures as a way to lose weight,” says Pate, who is board-certified in internal medicine. “Research demonstrates that weight-management drugs work best when combined with all the other things people should do to take care of their health, regardless of size.”

​Medication options 
 
The following weight-loss medications have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adults and, in some cases, children as young as 12.
  • Wegovy (semaglutide) is probably the best-known version, having received FDA approval for obesity in 2021. It works by mimicking a gut hormone that provokes insulin production, decreasing appetite and making people feel full. Wegovy was originally approved as a type 2 diabetes treatment under the names Ozempic and Rybelsus, and those drugs are sometimes prescribed off-label for people with obesity, Pate notes. It’s taken through injection. 
  • Saxenda (liraglutide) mimics a hormone in the intestines that signals to the brain that the stomach is full. Sold under different names, it’s also used to treat type 2 diabetes and is also injected.​
  • Mounjaro (tirzepatide) mimics a key gut hormone known as GLP-1. It’s typically activated after people eat and slows digestion and lowers appetite. It’s administered through an injection once a week. 
  • Xenical (orlistat) blocks the body from absorbing about one-third of the fat that’s eaten. Taken as a capsule, it’s also sold without a prescription — at half Xenical’s dose — as a brand called Alli.     
  • Contrave (naltrexone HCl and bupropion) combines two other drugs in a pill that targets areas of the brain involved in hunger and cravings. 
  • Adipex or Suprenza (phentermine) belongs to a class of drugs called appetite suppressants, which help people eat less. Use caution as these can have significant cardiac side effects.

​​“Clearly, prescription medications to treat overweight and obesity all work through various mechanisms,” Pate explains. “While some make people want to eat less, others make it harder to absorb fat from foods. But all should be used as part of a wider solution that incorporates healthy eating and exercise — never as a stand-alone measure to avoid those lifestyle measures.”

Risks and Benefits ​
“Nobody should take a weight-loss medication thinking that it’s free of possible complications. It’s a serious decision that can have serious consequences on the body.” ~ Denise Pate, M.D.
Prescription weight-loss drugs are also different in other ways. Some medications are meant to be used for short periods, others longer. And all come with side effects that vary widely — ranging from headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and dizziness to dry mouth, insomnia and heart palpitations. Serious side effects can also happen, including pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, kidney problems, and hypertension.
 
“Nobody should take a weight-loss medication thinking that it’s free of possible complications,” Pate warns. “It’s a serious decision that can have serious consequences on the body.”
​That said, weight-loss medications can offer significant benefits, which is what most people focus on. When combined with healthy eating and physical activity, many people taking them can lose 10% or more of their body weight, Pate notes.
 
“The health benefits can be incredible, lowering people’s blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels,” she says. “Significant weight loss can also help ease joint pain and improve or eliminate sleep apnea symptoms, really improving someone’s overall quality of life.”
 
Anyone who’s interested in taking prescription weight-loss drugs should speak to their doctor about the risks and benefits. “This is not a decision to take lightly, but for the right person, these medications can be a game-changer,” says Pate. 

Additional Resources​:

“Prescription Weight-Loss Drugs”
(Mayo Clinic)
 
“Questions Patients May Have About Weight-Loss Drugs”
(American Medical Association)
 
“Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity”
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) 

"Top Weight-Loss Medications"
​(Obesity Medicine Association)

Picture
Picture
Picture

​NEWS...

June Themes:
Culture, Relationships & Exploration

Next Community Compass/Corresponding E-newsletter publishes:
Mid-June
​
Coffee & Conversation Play List


Next Coffee & Conversation Show:
"Light & Connection: An Artist's Perspective"
Picture
SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS:
Let us know what you would like
to see and read about in SANCTUARY.
[email protected]
MERCH STORE
Picture
Support Us
Please LIKE us and FOLLOW us!
USE:
#WheresYourSanctuary
SEND US A GOOGLE REVIEW!

© 2025 Sanctuary Online, LLC
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
​Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily the opinion of this publication.
  • Open Book
    • Featured Interviews >
      • ARCHIVES: 2023-2024 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2022 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2021 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2020 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2019 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2018 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2017 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
      • ARCHIVES: 2016 FEATURED INTERVIEWS
    • More Interviews >
      • Archives : Interviews 2022-2023
      • Archives: Interviews 2020-2021
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2019
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2018
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2017
      • ARCHIVES: Interviews 2016
    • Autism Awareness 2024 >
      • Autism Awareness 2023
      • Autism Awareness 2022
      • Autism Awareness 2021
      • Autism Awareness 2020
      • Autism Awareness 2019
      • Autism Awareness 2018
  • Blank Canvas
    • Featured Artists >
      • 2024 Featured Artist Updates
      • Featured Artists Archives: 2023-2024
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2022
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2021
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2020
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2019
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2018
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2017
      • Featured Artist Archives: 2016
    • Selected Works >
      • Art Times Library
    • CULTURE CRAWL >
      • Archives: Culture Crawl
    • 2024 Focus on Youth >
      • 2023 Focus on Youth
      • 2022 Focus on Youth
      • 2021 Focus on Youth
      • 2020 Focus on Youth
      • 2019 Focus on Youth
      • 2018 Focus on Youth
      • 2017 Focus on Youth
      • 2016 Focus on Youth
    • 2024 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives >
      • 2023 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2022 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2021 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2020 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2019 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2018 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
      • 2017 Celebrating the Men in Our Lives
  • Body & Spirit
    • HEALTHY BODY >
      • Archives: Healthy Body
    • HEALTHY MIND >
      • Archives: Healthy Mind
    • Nutrition & Exercise >
      • LAURA'S CORNER TABLE
      • Archives: Nutrition & Exercise
    • Personal Safety >
      • Archives: Personal Safety
    • ALTERNATIVE THERAPY >
      • Archives: Alternative Therapy
    • NAVIGATING RELATIONSHIPS >
      • Archives: Navigating Relationships
  • INSPIRED LIFE
    • TRAVEL JOURNAL >
      • ARCHIVES: TRAVEL JOURNAL
    • YOUR MONEY & BUSINESS >
      • ARCHIVES: MONEY & BUSINESS
    • CAREER JOURNEY >
      • Archives: CAREER JOURNEY
    • SMART STEPS >
      • ARCHIVES: Smart Steps
    • TRAILBLAZERS >
      • ARCHIVES: Trailblazers
  • GUEST ROOM
    • Community Compass >
      • Annual Community Project
      • Reader Ramble
      • TEAM TALK
      • SPONSOR CORNER
    • ASK AN EXPERT >
      • ARCHIVES: ASK AN EXPERT
    • KINDNESS & KARMA ARCHIVES
    • We Hear You >
      • Celebrated Readers
      • TALKBACK
    • Book Giveaway 2024 >
      • Book Giveaway 2024 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2023 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2022 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2021 Winners' Circle
      • Book Giveaway 2020 Winners' Circle
    • Submit Your Work
    • Surveys
  • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Sponsor Ad Packages
    • Meet Our Sponsors
    • Events-Services-Specials
    • Sanctuary Events
    • Coffee & Conversation
  • About
    • Myrna's Musings
    • Our Team
    • Support Us
    • CONTACT US
  • Store