Healthy Body
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Here’s The ‘Skinny’ on Weight-Loss Meds
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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.
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“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
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“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.
“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)
“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)
