The landscape of pharmacological obesity treatment is rapidly evolving, requiring healthcare providers to stay informed. Before 2012, the FDA had approved few weight loss medications. However, the 2020s saw a surge in popularity and media attention for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists). Subsequently, dual receptor agonists like Mounjaro, indicated for type 2 diabetes, and Zepbound, indicated for obesity, emerged. By 2024, many adults were using GLP-1s for weight loss.
With an increasing number of weight loss medications available, patients may wonder about the most effective prescription medication and which one is best suited for them. It's important to acknowledge that the answer is complex, and newer medications aren't always superior. Determining if someone is a candidate for weight loss medications starts with assessing their Body Mass Index (BMI). For each patient, the doctor and patient should discuss the patient’s current health issues, other medications, and family medical history. The average weight loss varies from 5% to 21%, with some people losing more and some people losing less. It's also important to note that most people regain weight if AOMs are discontinued. While some weight loss medications are FDA-approved only for adults, some-including semaglutide and liraglutide-are approved for children 12 and older with a BMI >/= 95th percentile.
Understanding Medical Weight Loss Programs
Medical weight management is a program designed to help individuals lose weight and maintain that weight loss without resorting to surgery. These programs emphasize building daily habits for a healthy lifestyle. Medical weight management differs from dieting alone because it provides a team of experts for guidance, support, and accountability. This team typically includes a doctor and a dietitian, and may also involve nurses, physical therapists, and psychologists, depending on individual needs.
Good candidates for medical weight management are those who’ve tried lifestyle changes but struggle to maintain them. Your BMI is a measurement of your body fat based on your height and weight. You can’t have bariatric surgery because of a medical or psychological condition that would make surgery harmful. Weight loss is highly variable, as everyone’s body responds differently to treatments. Everybody is different, so it’s hard to know how quickly the weight will come off. Some people will start dropping pounds right away. It’s important to remember that medical weight management isn’t a speed run. That doesn’t mean you’ll be in a medical weight management program forever.
Key Components of Effective Programs
A weight loss diet typically includes less refined carbs and more fiber-rich food and lean meats. That’s because foods that are lower in fat and higher in fiber tend to have fewer calories and fill you up more. It’s important to remember that no food is “bad” or completely off-limits. It could be that you don’t know where to start with an exercise program. As part of a medical weight management program, you’ll learn about the exercises that will help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Most people will benefit from a combination of cardio, strength training and flexibility exercises. Food is fuel - but it’s more than that. Eating is at the center of social activities. Food can also be a source of frustration. It may seem like you can’t lose weight no matter what you eat and what you do. Even if you lose weight, the pounds can return - the process can go on and on. To lose weight (and keep it off), it’s important to address your attitudes and emotions related to food.
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Weight control isn’t always as simple as balancing what you eat with what you do. Generally speaking, when you gain weight, it means you’re eating more calories than your body is burning. But this can happen even if you’re exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. Your caloric needs may be different because of aging or certain behaviors. Your brain gets used to your body being a certain weight and takes steps to keep you at that size. Losing weight can actually lower your metabolic rate, meaning that your body burns through food more slowly, so you need to eat less. And that’s not the only change. After losing weight it’s common to have an increased appetite - even though you need fewer calories to support your smaller body.
FDA-Approved Medications for Weight Loss
Some weight loss medications have been on the market for many years, and new ones emerge frequently. It can be easy to overlook first-generation AOMs, but these may be appropriate for some patients, especially when cost is a factor. Several FDA-approved medications can be incorporated into a medical weight loss program:
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic)
Wegovy is a brand name for semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist. It was FDA-approved in 2021. It is administered as an injection and approved for use in adults and children aged 12 years or more with obesity (BMI ≥30 for adults, BMI ≥ 95th percentile for age and sex for children) or some adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems. The dose must be increased gradually over 16 to 20 weeks to arrive at the 2.4 mg dosage. This progression can help to alleviate side effects, which include gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, dizziness, and fatigue. It is intended to be used indefinitely, in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. Ozempic may be a more familiar name to some patients.
Liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza)
Liraglutide is a daily injectable medication that acts on hormones that send signals from the gut to the brain to make the patient feel full quicker and decrease hunger signals. Doses start at 0.6 mg to 3 mg a day. Some patients may lose 5-10% of body weight, especially with the higher dose of liraglutide. Liraglutide is also approved for Type 2 Diabetes, under the brand name Victoza. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, headache, decreased appetite, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, increased lipase, and renal insufficiency.
Dual Receptor Agonists
Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)
Zepbound is approved to treat obesity in adults with a BMI of 30 or greater. It is both a GLP-1 and a GIP receptor agonist. Like semaglutide, it works by reducing appetite and is meant to be used in combination with diet and exercise to lose weight. In the SURMOUNT-1 trial, adults with obesity or overweight (without diabetes) taking tirzepatide achieved up to 22.5% average body weight reduction at 72 weeks. Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that suppresses appetite, improves satiety, and supports metabolic health. In addition to impressive weight loss, studies show improvements in cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic markers.
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Other Medications
Phentermine
Phentermine is the oldest and most widely used weight loss medication. It was originally used as a short-term medication to jump-start weight loss, but now newer medical guidelines have added it to long-term therapy. Side effects include headache, overstimulation, high blood pressure, insomnia, rapid or irregular heart rate, and tremor.
Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)
Topiramate can be combined with phentermine to decrease appetite and cravings. Adults with migraines and obesity are good candidates for this weight-loss medication. Some patients may lose an average of 5-10% of body weight. Daily doses with four strengths start at 3.75 mg/23 mg to 15 mg/92 mg. Side effects include abnormal sensations, dizziness, altered taste, insomnia, constipation, and dry mouth.
Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrave)
Naltrexone-bupropion combines an opioid receptor antagonist with an antidepressant to affect the pleasure-reward areas of the brain and thereby decrease cravings and appetite. Start with a daily dose of one 8/90 mg tablet and gradually increase to four tablets a day. The most common side effects include nausea, constipation, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and diarrhea.
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
Orlistat is a lipase inhibitor that comes in a capsule. Undigested fat is then passed through the body. Some patients may lose about 5% of their body weight. An over-the-counter formulation is available at 60 mg capsules with each fat-containing meal. The only over-the-counter medicine for weight loss currently approved by the FDA is Alli (orlistat).
Setmelanotide
Setmelanotide is a melanocortin-4 receptor agonist indicated for chronic weight management in adult and pediatric patients six years and older, with obesity due to certain rare genetic disorders.
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Medical Devices
Plenity
A medical device rather than a medication, Plenity was FDA-cleared in 2019 for people with a BMI of 25 to 40. It consists of a capsule that releases a biodegradable, super-absorbent hydrogel into the stomach. The gel helps to increase satiety, enabling the person to eat less.
The Importance of a Holistic Approach
All weight loss medications work best in the context of a healthy eating plan and exercise. A treatment plan for obesity can comprise multiple forms of treatment, including medications, diet, exercise, and/or surgery. Some weight management medications are designed for short-term use and others for long-term use. FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (AOMs) are safe, evidence-based therapies that target specific physiology to improve the disease and are most effective when used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Factors Affecting the Affordability of Medical Weight Loss Programs
Several factors can affect the affordability of medical weight loss programs:
Insurance Coverage
Insurance coverage varies and will affect many patients’ choices about going on weight loss medications. Some patients are able to get coverage for prescribed weight loss medications through their health insurance, but each plan is different. This can help offset some costs and make weight management more affordable. It is important to check with your insurance provider for personalized coverage details.
Medication Costs
As with many medications, some weight loss drugs have been on the market longer, have generic alternatives, and tend to be more affordable. GLP-1s are notoriously costly. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates the annual net price of Wegovy at $13,600. provides Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vial access for the 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg doses-starting with refill eligibility within 45 days of delivery. and are not covered by insurance.
Program Fees
Fees can be competitive and cover physician visits, materials, and medications (if medically justified). You are not required to purchase any food to complete our program. Dr. Aron wants you to lose weight and keep it off while eating your own food in order to achieve long-term success.
Emerging Trends in Weight Loss Medications
With fervent consumer demand for weight loss medications, combined with rising obesity rates, more medications are bound for the market in the coming years. Pharmaceutical platform Ozmosi predicts one to two GLP-1 launches annually starting in 2026. specifically for obesity. Lilly is developing at least two new options. The first, orforglipron, is an oral GLP-1 inhibitor that completed a Phase 3 clinical trial in early 2025. It could provide a welcome alternative for people who do not want injections. Phase 3 results expected soon. at 36 weeks. The other, retatrutide, targets GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. At this writing, it is in Phase 3 clinical trials. In Phase 2, participants lost up to 24.2% of body weight at 48 weeks. Amgen is developing MariTide, a monoclonal antibody designed to increase GLP-1 receptor activity while reducing GIP receptor activity. The once-monthly injection entered Phase 3 clinical trials in March 2025. Researchers continue to study hormones that play a role in appetite for other ways to target obesity with medication. Those of interest include not only GLP-1, but also peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY) and cholecystokinin (CCK). With more options available, doctors will be increasingly able to personalize treatments.
Navigating Potential Pitfalls
Some online healthcare providers claim to sell Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound at reduced prices. However, the FDA warns against buying medications from any source other than a state-licensed pharmacy. In April 2025, they banned the sale of “counterfeit” semaglutide and tirzepatide. These medications are not made or packaged by the original manufacturers. Instead, they are compounded medications. Compounded versions of medications are made by compounding pharmacies, often to tailor a medication to specific patient needs, like an allergy to an inactive ingredient. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. due to shortages. Some patients have taken these alternatives, which are generally more affordable, without ill effects. has received 520 reports of adverse events associated with compounded semaglutide and 480 reports of adverse events associated with compounded tirzepatide (as of April 30, 2025).
Lifestyle Programs
Weight Watchers
According to U.S. News in 2025, the WeightWatchers Points Program assigns every food a “Point value” based on calories, protein, added sugar, saturated fat, unsaturated fat and fiber, Michelle Cardel, Ph.D., dietitian and Chief Nutrition Officer at WeightWatchers, tells TODAY.com. Foods higher in protein, unsaturated fat, and fiber will be fewer Points, while foods higher in calories, added sugar and saturated fat will be more Points. All members receive a personalized Points Budget, calculated based on their individual metabolic rate, determined by age, height, weight, sex assigned at birth and goals. Participants need to stay within their points budget to lose weight. Any calorie-based system can help with weight loss, but the Weight Watchers Points Program “consistently (produces) weight loss and (improves) diet quality, (and) studies show that our program improves quality of life by 16% through our enhanced, holistic model of care," Cardel says. Nutrition experts say the program is simple to follow and provides a lot of support through the app features and members-only social network. Users can upload a picture of the food they are planning to eat to its app, which then automatically calculates the food item’s ingredients, portions and points.
Mayo Clinic Diet
The Mayo Clinic Diet focuses on eating healthy foods by teaching how to estimate portion sizes and plan meals while increasing physical activity. “It is a lifestyle change program,” Dr. Donald Hensrud, editor of "The Mayo Clinic Diet," tells TODAY.com. He adds that the only necessary cost is "The Mayo Clinic Diet" book and, if desired, "The Mayo Clinic Diet Journal," he says. Digital resources, including food tracking, group coaching, meal plans and recipes, and other educational tools, are also available. “By consuming generous amounts of foods that are high in bulk but low in calories, such as vegetables and fruits, people can feel satisfied yet consume less calories” adds Hensrud, an internal medicine physician specializing in nutrition and weight management. The diet is divided into two phases: The first is called “Lose It!” and the second is called “Live It!” “In the two-week ‘Lose It!’ phase, participants change 15 habits, and in the ‘Live It!’ phase, people take these habits and turn them into a long-term change program,” Hensrud explains. The program now offers eight meal plans to personalize the weight loss journey, including a “freestyle” plan, as well as Mediterranean, protein, keto, vegetarian and one for those on GLP-1s. One new feature is the Mayo Clinic Diet Score, a 100-point scoring system based on your current habits and behaviors. The higher your score, the more potential for weight loss over the long term.
TOPS Club
“In a nutshell, TOPS connects people of all backgrounds, many of whom cannot afford expensive commercial programs, through our network of weight‐loss support groups,” Michelle Ganley, director of communications of TOPS Club, tells TODAY.com. “When you become a member of a chapter, you’re joining a group of people with similar healthy living goals. There’s no official diet to follow, but many follow the Food Exchange System, created by the American Diabetic Association, Ganley notes. Dr. Nia Schwann Mitchell, weight management specialist at Duke University, tells TODAY.com that a “unique” aspect of TOPS Club is that “people are expected to continue in the program and participate weekly, even after they reach their goal weight.” Her research shows people who participate in the TOPS program for at least one year can lose up to 5-7% of their initial weight and maintain the weight loss for up to seven years. “As with other weight loss strategies, when people stop doing the things that helped them lose weight, they gain it back,” she adds. Multiple nutritionists TODAY.com interviewed gave high marks to this program.