As we plan for our 25th-anniversary reunion next year, one of my medical school classmates jokingly said, “Great! That is enough time for my Ozempic to work, and I can have at least a 4-pack by the reunion date.” So, what is Ozempic? What are the medications prescribed for weight loss? Is a weight-loss medication right for you? Have you tried losing weight the “healthy” way, with diet and exercise, with no success? Are you frustrated that you have done everything possible to lose weight, yet the pounds or kilograms keep going up? If you answered yes to these last two questions, a prescription weight-loss medication may be a choice for you.
What are weight-loss medications?
Prescription weight-loss medications are medicines your doctor or health care provider prescribes to help you lose weight. They are not available over the counter, and you need a prescription to get them.
Weight-loss medications should be used in addition to practicing a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Is a weight-loss medication right for you?
Not everyone with a high Body Mass Index (BMI) needs to take weight-loss medications. In fact, practicing a healthy lifestyle may be all that you need to maintain a healthy weight. A healthy lifestyle includes:
- Eating healthy.
- Being more physically active.
- Addressing other factors that can cause you to gain weight, such as inadequate sleep or excessive stress.
For more on how and why we should all practice a healthy lifestyle, check out “The Number One Killer of Women.”
A weight-loss medication may be right for you if you have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight by practicing a healthy lifestyle and you fall into one of these two categories:
1) Your Body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30, which means you are living with obesity.
2) Your BMI is greater than 27, and you also have a serious medical condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, which are linked to obesity.
Are weight-loss medications effective?
Yes. Weight-loss medications can help you lose weight. In one study, the average weight loss in people that received Ozempic was 5.9% at 3 months and 10.9% at 6 months. Generally, weight-loss medications and practicing a healthy lifestyle can help you lose 3% to 12% more weight after a year than practicing a healthy lifestyle alone.
Although losing 3 to 12 percent of your body weight may not seem like a lot, remember that every little weight loss that moves you toward a healthy weight counts because it improves your health. For example, losing just 5% to 10% of your total weight and keeping it off can lower your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol/triglyceride levels.
How do weight-loss medications work?
Weight-loss medications work in different ways. Most of them reduce your appetite, so you feel less hungry or fuller faster, causing you to eat less. On the other hand, some make it more difficult for your body to absorb fat from the foods you eat.
What are the common weight-loss medications?
Some of the commonly used and approved prescription weight-loss medications are:
Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic)
Setmelanotide (Imcivree)
How do you take weight-loss medications?
Some weight-loss medications are pills taken by mouth, such as Contrave and Alli. Others are daily injections, like Saxenda, while some are weekly injections, like Ozempic.
Are there downsides to taking weight-loss medications?
Weight-loss medications are not for everyone. Some of the downsides to taking them are:
1) Cost/insurance coverage
Not all insurance companies will cover weight-loss medications. And some of these medications can be pricey if you pay out of pocket. For example, Ozempic costs up to $892 to $950 for a month’s supply (4 injections).
2) Side effects
Some common side effects are nausea, constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, and headache. Very rarely, serious side effects, like pancreatitis, can happen.
3) Weight gain after stopping weight-loss medications
Research shows that weight gain is likely after stopping weight-loss medications. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce this rebound weight gain.
4) Pain and discomfort with injections
If you are terrified of injections or experience significant pain or discomfort, taking weight-loss medications given by injection, such as Ozempic, may be challenging.
5) Unknown long-term effects
Many weight-loss medications are newer, and some adverse long-term effects are possible. For example, Lorcaserin (Belviq), a weight-loss medication, was removed from the market in the United States in 2020 due to an increased risk of cancer detected in the users of Belviq.
When do you start to see weight loss from weight-loss medications?
If the medication is effective, you should see a weight loss of at least 5% after 12 weeks. If this is not the case, your doctor may want to try a different medication.
How long do you need to be on weight-loss medications?
If the medication is helping you lose weight without serious side effects, you may need to stay on it long-term or indefinitely.
Final thoughts
Let’s face it. Sometimes we do everything possible to lose weight, and it doesn’t happen. Just like sometimes, we do everything possible to lower our blood pressure but still develop high blood pressure. The good news is that we can treat obesity with medication, just like high blood pressure or diabetes.
However, weight-loss medications are not for everyone. There can be side effects to taking them. Therefore, weighing the risks and benefits before starting these medicines is important. Never take weight-loss medications solely to improve the way you look. Instead, they should be taken to help you stay healthy and prevent or treat diseases associated with obesity.
Remember also that weight-loss medications are not a substitute for eating healthy and exercising. As a matter of fact, exercise can also help you stay healthy and prevent or treat diseases associated with obesity. To learn more about the benefits of exercise, check out “Exercise: A Path to Better Health for Women over Forty.”
Furthermore, losing weight with weight-loss medications can motivate you to continue with a healthy lifestyle. Lastly, after reaching your goal weight, exercise can help you stop taking weight-loss medications without gaining back the lost pounds.
Finally, knowing what you know now, is a weight-loss medication right for you? If yes, please discuss your options with your health care provider!
Please feel free to comment below and also feel free to share this article.
Yours in health and fitness,
Doctor Abi
