Following a healthy diet and exercising helps treat obesity and reduce excess weight. However, if these options are not sufficient, some people may use prescription weight loss medications in certain cases. (1)
Who can benefit from these medications, and what are the most common weight loss drugs?
Who Can Benefit from Weight Loss Medications?
Weight loss medications are not suitable for everyone and have specific conditions to be considered eligible, including:(2)
- You must have tried other weight loss methods, such as following a healthy diet and exercising, without success.
- You must have severe obesity (BMI over 30).
- You may be eligible if you are overweight (BMI over 27) and have obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
These medications are not useful for everyone, so it is essential to review your medical history in detail with a doctor to determine the benefits, risks, and suitability for use.(3)
What is the Expected Weight Loss from These Medications?
After one year of using weight loss medications along with a healthy lifestyle, most individuals lose 5–20% of their weight depending on the drug, body response, and adherence to healthy habits.(4)
How Long Can I Safely Use Weight Loss Medications?
The duration depends on whether the medication effectively helps you lose weight without serious side effects. For example, if you have lost enough weight to improve your health, the doctor may recommend continuing the medication long-term.However, if you do not lose 5% of your original weight after 12 weeks of use, the doctor will usually advise stopping it and may suggest alternatives, such as:(5)(2)
- Following a different weight loss method and lifestyle.
- Switching to another medication if deemed appropriate by the doctor.
- Reviewing other medications you take, as some may cause weight gain as a side effect.
- Referral to a bariatric surgeon to determine if you are eligible for weight loss surgery.
Book an appointment with one of the endocrinologists or obesity specialists at Al-Ahli Hospital. Our team is equipped to accurately assess your condition and provide medical advice and appropriate treatment options.
What are the Approved Weight Loss Medications?
There are 7 FDA-approved medications for obesity. The choice depends on factors such as expected weight loss, your overall health, potential side effects, and cost:(2)(6)
1- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro Injection)
- Age: Adults
- How it works: Suppresses appetite and slows stomach emptying, keeping you full most of the time.
- Form: Injection
- Expected weight loss: Highest weight loss, up to 20–21% after 72 weeks at a dose of 10–15 mg.
- Common side effects: Nausea (most common), vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, belching.(13)
- Precautions:
- Increases risk of pancreatitis and certain types of thyroid tumors.
- May worsen gastrointestinal problems such as gastroparesis.(7)
2- Semaglutide (Ozempic Injection)
- Age: Adults and children over 12 years
- How it works: Suppresses appetite and keeps you full most of the time, similar to Mounjaro.
- Form: Injection, recently available in oral form.
- Expected weight loss: 15–20% after 68 weeks.
- Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue.
- Precautions:
- May increase risk of pancreatitis and certain types of thyroid tumors.
3- Liraglutide (Saxenda Injection)
- Age: Adults and children over 12 years
- How it works: Suppresses appetite and keeps you full most of the time, similar to Mounjaro and Ozempic.
- Form: Injection
- Expected weight loss: 6% after 56 weeks of continuous use.
- Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache.
- Precautions:
- Increases risk of pancreatitis and rare thyroid tumors.
4- Orlistat (Xenical Tablets)
- Age: Adults and children over 12 years
- How it works: Reduces the amount of fat absorbed from the food you eat, causing fat to be excreted in stool as diarrhea or fatty stools.
- Form: Tablets
- Expected weight loss: 5–6% after 24 weeks of use.
- Common side effects: Diarrhea, fatty stools, gas.
- Precautions:
- Take recommended vitamins during use.
- Rarely may cause liver problems.
5- Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)
- Age: Adults and children over 12 years
- How it works: Reduces appetite and keeps you full longer.
- Form: Tablets
- Expected weight loss: 10% after 2 years of use.
- Common side effects: Constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, taste changes (especially with soda), numbness in limbs, difficulty sleeping.
- Precautions:
- Glaucoma, hyperthyroidism, heart attack or stroke risk, mood disorders, kidney disease.
6- Bupropion-Naltrexone
- Age: Adults
- How it works: Reduces appetite and keeps you full longer.
- Form: Tablets
- Expected weight loss: 5% after 12 weeks of continuous use.
- Common side effects: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, headache, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, insomnia, liver damage.
- Precautions:
- Uncontrolled hypertension, seizures, history of eating disorders, use for other health reasons.
7- Setmelanotide
- Age: Adults and children over 6 years with obesity due to specific genetic conditions only.
- How it works: Reduces appetite, increases satiety, and raises resting calorie burn.
- Form: Injection
- Expected weight loss: 10% of weight after one year of use.
- Common side effects: Skin darkening, nausea, changes in sexual desire, depression, suicidal thoughts.
- Precautions:
- Only used for obesity caused by specific genetic conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can weight be regained after stopping these medications?
Yes. If you stop taking them without following a diet and regular exercise, you can regain lost weight.(3)
How do weight loss medications work?
There are many types of weight loss medications, each working differently. Some reduce hunger and increase satiety shortly after a meal, while others alter the body’s absorption of dietary fat.(2)
Can children use weight loss medications?
The FDA has approved some medications for children over 12 years: Orlistat,Phentermine-Topiramate, Liraglutide, Semaglutide.(2)
Setmelanotide can be used in children over 6 years.(2)
Can elderly people use weight loss medications?
Most weight loss medications are approved for people aged 18–64. There is no clear guidance for those over 65.(5)
References
- Obesity Treatment: A Focus on Pharmacotherapy of Weight Management
- Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity - NIDDK
- Weight-loss medicines: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- Understanding new weight-loss drugs - Harvard Health
- Weight Loss Medications (Anti-Obesity Medications) | University of Utah Health
- Top Weight Loss Medications | Obesity Medicine Association
- FDA Approves New Medication for Chronic Weight Management
