Medicine
Medication for Weight Loss
Weight loss can be optimally supported with anti-obesity medication. There are currently 8 medications that are FDA-approved for weight loss, and each medication has unique characteristics that can be appropriately matched to a patient based upon their issues with weight and their overall medical picture.
These medications are safe and very effective when used appropriately. Extra weight, especially obesity, should be treated with a medical approach just like all other medical conditions.
Medications commonly used in our office:
- Phentermine
- Phendimetrazine
- Contrave
- Qsymia
- Topamax
- Saxenda
- Wegovy
- Zepbound
- Semaglutide
- Tirzepatide
Many of these medications are safe to use in teenagers.
Patients lose MORE weight MORE easily with the help of these medications and have greater success at keeping their weight OFF after weight loss when supported by a medication.
The anti-obesity medications work best when combined with a reduced-calorie, healthy diet and medical monitoring and support.
An important goal for each patient is to do more than just lose weight; it is to MAINTAIN weight loss long-term and to make lifestyle changes that are sustainable for improved health.
Losing just 5% of body weight will significantly reduce a patient’s risk of many diseases, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, fatty liver diseases (currently the most common cause of cirrhosis in the US), type 2 diabetes, arthritis of the knees, hips and hands, heart disease and many forms of cancer.