Should I be Taking Weight Loss Medication?
My name is Dr. Marsha Novick, and I am the Medical Director of Weight Management & Wellness Online. As a board-certified family physician and national expert in the field of obesity medicine, I have spent over 20 years successfully treating thousands of adults and children with weight problems.
At Weight Management & Wellness Online, I identify the factors that impact my patients’ weight (such as hormones, lifestyle, and the environment). Then, I create the best physician-supervised, individualized treatment plan for permanent weight loss.
Along with dietary and lifestyle changes, many of my patients are prescribed weight loss medication. As a licensed weight loss doctor, it excites me to see that weight loss medications have become safer and more effective every year!
Have you thought about starting a weight loss medication?
If you have tried multiple times to lose and maintain your weight without success, a medication may be the next step in your treatment.
Here are a few important facts about prescription weight loss medications:
- Obesity is a complex medical condition that has little to do with willpower, and prescription medications can be an effective part of treatment. Medication is not a crutch but a way to treat this medical condition.
- Medications do not work alone. Decreasing one’s food intake is also necessary.
- Not all insurance companies cover these medications. If you are an appropriate candidate and your insurance covers these medications, I will prescribe them for you.
- Some weight loss medications are approved only for adults. Be patient- more meds. are coming for children and teens! I also prescribe weight loss medication for young children and adolescents.
- A 5% weight loss improves medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.
| Weight Loss Medication | % Body Weight Loss | Where Does it Work? | Best For People Who | Common Adverse Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlistat (Xenical, Alli): FDA approved ≥ 12 years old | 3% | Works in the gastrointestinal track; binds to fat from a meal and helps to poop this fat out | Have constipation | Oily stool, abdominal discomfort |
| Gelesis (Plenity): FDA approved ≥ 22 years old | 6.0% | Taken before meals; Expands in stomach to create a feeling of early fullness | Eat large meals | Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort |
| Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave): FDA approved ≥ 18 years old | 6.4% | Brain (multiple locations) | Have Depression and/or Anxiety. Are "Emotional Eaters" | Nausea, elevates blood pressure |
| Phentermine/Topiramate ER (Qsymia): FDA approved ≥ 12 years old | 10.9% | Brain | Eat large meals or feel out-of-control with snacking | Sleepiness, cognitive effects, birth defects (don’t take if planning to get pregnant) |
| Liraglude (Saxenda): FDA approved ≥ 12 years old: Daily injection | 6.2% | Brain (multiple locations), small intestine, pancreas, stomach | Graze/snack a lot | Nausea, pancreatitis |
| Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic, Trulicity, Rybelsus): FDA approved ≥ 18 years old: Weekly injection | 12.4% | Brain (multiple locations), small intestine, pancreas, stomach | Graze/snack a lot | Nausea, pancreatitis |
| Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) Approved for Type 2 diabetes, ≥ 18 years old: Not yet FDA approved for weight loss (in research trials): Weekly injection | 20.5% | Brain (multiple locations), small intestine, pancreas, stomach | Graze/snack a lot | Nausea, pancreatitis |
If you would like to discuss treatment options, including weight loss medications, for you or your child, please contact me for a free initial consultation.
I look forward to working with you!
