As a psychiatrist at Bayhealth, I have seen firsthand the struggles that people face when it comes to weight loss. It's not just about vanity, but also about overall health and well-being. That's why it's important for doctors to better identify and treat major depressive disorder and seasonal depression, which can often contribute to weight gain. But when lifestyle changes alone aren't enough, weight-loss medications can be a helpful tool in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. There are several types of weight-loss medications available, each with their own mechanisms, costs, and insurance coverage.
As the director of experience at AMA, Todd Unger explains, it's important to combine these medications with lifestyle changes for the best results. One such medication is Contrave, which is a combination of bupropion and naltrexone. But there are also two newer medications that have been making waves in the weight-loss world: Wegovy and Zepbound. Wegovy is the sister drug of Ozempic, an injectable GLP-1 agonist. This hormone acts on the GLP-1 agonist, which is a hormone that comes from the small intestine and works on the hypothalamus in the brain.
This helps to reduce energy expenditure, suppress appetite, and delay gastric motility, making people feel more satiated. Zepbound, on the other hand, is Mounjaro's sister drug and works on both GLP and GIP hormones in the same pathway in the brain. It's important to note that these medications do require a prescription and should be followed up with regular check-ins with your doctor. Dosages may need to be adjusted during an initial period of trial and error. And as with any medication, it's important to pay attention to any symptoms or potential drug interactions.
It's also crucial for patients to make sure they are eating enough while taking these medications. While there are many success stories of people losing weight with these medications, it's important to note that they may not work for everyone. That's why it's helpful to have blood tests that can determine which patients may be more likely to see success with these medications. And studies have shown that prescription weight-loss medications used for more than 12 weeks can lead to significant weight loss compared to a placebo. But as Dr. Janese Laster, a gastroenterologist and specialist in obesity medicine, emphasizes, weight-loss medications should not be taken solely for vanity purposes.
They are intended for people who have health problems due to being overweight or obese, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or sleep apnea. Before being prescribed a weight-loss medication, it's important to discuss your full medical history with your doctor, including any allergies or other conditions you may have. Starting a conversation with your doctor about weight-loss medications can be overwhelming, but it's important to be honest about your diet and exercise efforts and why you think medication may be necessary. Your doctor will evaluate if these medications are right for you based on your specific health situation and other factors. By having an open and honest conversation with your healthcare provider, you can ensure a more effective approach to losing weight that aligns with your personal wellness goals and safety concerns. And if one medication doesn't work for you, there are others that can be tried.
For example, if you don't see at least a 3% weight loss after 12 weeks with Qsymia, the FDA recommends stopping the medication or increasing the dosage for another 12 weeks before considering other options. It's important to note that your doctor may refuse to prescribe weight-loss medications if they don't believe it's the right choice for your situation. And while these medications can be helpful, they should not be seen as a quick fix. They should be used in conjunction with lifestyle changes for the best results. In addition to helping with weight loss, these medications have also been shown to improve other health markers such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease. But as with any medication, there are potential side effects to consider.
For example, phentermine reduces appetite while topiramate helps you feel full and burn more calories, but they can also cause unpleasant side effects. One of the biggest concerns for patients is how long they should take these medications and if they will regain the weight once they stop. While there is no definitive answer, studies have shown that taking these medications for a year can lead to a loss of 3-12% of total body weight compared to lifestyle changes alone.
