Weight Loss Drugs Can Be a Lifesaver

What do Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Schumer, and Elon Musk have in common? They all tried weight loss medications, with varying success.

Medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound may literally save or lengthen the lives of overweight people. If you need them, take them.

Celebrities may be invested in looking their best, but they may also be concerned about the health risks posed by obesity. Obesity is associated with increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and other health problems.

Despite the potential benefits, there are significant considerations. They are not for everyone. Roughly two-thirds of patients discontinue them within a year for various reasons.

• Diet medications can have poor side effects. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, and upset stomach.
• The medications can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
• Not everyone responds the same way to weight loss drugs, and some people may lose little or none of their weight.

To be fair, it is not only weight loss medications that people discontinue.  Nonadherence to all sorts of medication is unfortunately common. Patients don’t always take their medications as prescribed about half the time. For example, 30-50% of people with type 1 diabetes fail to stick with their treatment plan. 50-70% of people who have asthma fail to take their medicine. 50-70% of people with chronic high blood pressure don’t take their hypertension medication as directed.

Many people regain weight after stopping the medication. Achieving weight loss is often the initial, and sometimes more visible, hurdle. However, maintaining weight loss long-term is the greater challenge.

There is no magic bullet. Prescription weight loss drugs are an adjunct to weight loss, but it is necessary to learn tools and utilize techniques to keep it off. Even if you take weight loss drugs and have success, you have work to do.