As a weight loss expert, I have seen many people struggle with their weight and turn to medication for help. But the question that often arises is, do you have to be obese to get weight loss pills? The answer is not as simple as a yes or no. Let's dive into the criteria for prescribing medications for weight loss and who is eligible for these medications. Most medications are prescribed to people with a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of 27 or more if the person has weight-related health problems. This includes popular weight loss pills such as Alli and Xenical.
Alli is approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adults 18 and older who have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more. Xenical, on the other hand, is approved for use in adults with a BMI of 30 or more (obese).
However, Xenical is also approved for people with a BMI of 27 to 30 (overweight) who have other health risk factors, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. But weight control medications are not for everyone with a high BMI. If you're overweight or obese, you may be able to lose weight with a lifestyle program that changes your behaviors and improves your eating and physical activity habits. A lifestyle program can also address other factors that cause you to gain weight, such as dietary triggers and lack of sleep. So who is eligible for weight loss pills? If your body mass index, or BMI, is 30 or higher, then you're eligible. If your BMI is 27 or more and you have additional health risks, then you're eligible to get a prescription for Wegovy, Low Wang said.
This means that weight-loss medications may be an option for you if you're obese, which is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. To put this into perspective, for an adult who is 5 feet 8 inches tall, that equates to a weight of 197 pounds or more. But before you rush to your doctor for a prescription, there are a few things you should know. First, you should check your BMI each time you order orlistat. You must also be 18 years of age or older to take orlistat and should not take it for more than six months without a prescription (at a dose of 60 mg).
And if you haven't lost at least 5% of your weight after taking orlistat for three months, you should not continue taking it. Furthermore, to be eligible for weight loss pills, you must be 28 years or older and have a medical condition that would benefit from losing weight (such as diabetes or high blood pressure). Choosing a medication to treat overweight or obesity is a decision between you and your healthcare professional. And for decades, leading medical experts blamed people who were overweight or obese for the extra pounds they accumulated without giving them much help or considering the physiological causes of weight gain. But now, we understand that obesity is a complex condition with various contributing factors, and medication can be an effective tool in treating it. However, weight loss pills are not a magic solution.
They can help you make the lifestyle changes you need to practice to lose weight and improve your health. But if treatment is successful, you are more likely to not regain weight or lose more weight if you continue with your diet, exercise, and drug treatment plan. Before taking any medication to treat obesity, it's crucial to talk to your healthcare professional about the potential risks and benefits. But why is there a need for weight loss pills in the first place? Doctors say that obesity should be considered in the same way as other chronic conditions that can be treated and kept under control with medication. It's important to talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of all weight-loss treatments.
While health insurance generally covers GLP-1 agonists to control diabetes, it's less common when they're prescribed to control weight. In addition to helping you lose weight and keep your blood sugar under control, these medications have also been shown to improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. You've probably heard the term "face from Ozempic" to describe the change in appearance of people who have lost significant amounts of weight. But it's essential to note that weight loss pills should not be the first line of treatment for obesity. Physicians should first make sure they try to change eating and exercise habits to lose weight, and they should only use orlistat together with these medications, and not alone.
Losing weight by 5 to 10% of your starting body weight can help improve your health by reducing blood sugar, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels. According to guidelines introduced in February 2025, online pharmacies must carry out stricter controls to prevent people who already have a healthy weight or have a history of eating disorders from buying weight-loss injections. This is because these injections are only meant for people with a BMI of 30 or more, or a BMI of 27 or more with additional health risks. So if you're considering weight loss pills, make sure you consult with your healthcare professional first.
