The quest for effective weight loss solutions has led to a rapidly evolving landscape of pharmacological treatments for obesity. With a growing number of options available, understanding the effectiveness, risks, and appropriate use of slim diet pills is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers. This article delves into the various aspects of weight loss medications, from their mechanisms of action to potential side effects and long-term considerations.
The Evolving Landscape of Weight Loss Medications
Before 2012, the FDA had approved only a limited number of weight loss medications. The 2020s witnessed a surge in the popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists), followed by the introduction of dual receptor agonists like Mounjaro (indicated for type 2 diabetes) and Zepbound (approved for obesity). The pharmacological treatment of obesity is a fast-changing landscape, and care providers must strive continuously to stay current. The rise of these medications has sparked considerable interest, with millions of adults taking a GLP-1 for weight loss in 2024.
Determining Candidacy for Weight Loss Medications
Determining whether someone is a candidate for weight loss medications begins with BMI. For each individual case, 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. 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.
First-Generation AOMs
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.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: A New Era in Weight Loss
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.
Read also: Is Slim Jim Healthy?
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.
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.
Mechanism of Action
The drugs work by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which curbs hunger. GLP-1 also slows down the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine - hence a feeling of fullness - and increases insulin production, lowering blood sugar. The gist? GLP-1 drugs make you eat less.
Potential Benefits
Recent studies have shown that semaglutide also helps people with obesity lower their high blood pressure and reduce their odds of heart attacks or strokes. Early evidence suggests the drugs might also improve depression and substance abuse disorders.
Side Effects and Risks
The potential side effects of GLP-1 drugs are no fun: nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation. Albert agrees that the side effects, while mild or temporary for many, can’t be underestimated. For others, GLP-1 agonists can slow digestion to a problematic degree. Patients have sued the drugmakers after developing dangerous conditions, such as stomach paralysis and bowel obstructions.
Read also: Achieving Weight Loss Goals
Long-Term Considerations
Once you start taking GLP-1s, the drugmakers suggest you stay on them. The existing studies are clear: People who go off the drugs eventually regain much of their lost weight.
Other FDA-Approved Weight Loss 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. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a warning about suicide risk. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure. So your provider will need to check your blood pressure regularly at the start of treatment.
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. Orlistat can cause side effects such as passing gas and having loose stools. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. In rare cases, people have had serious liver injury with orlistat.
Read also: Weight Loss: Slim Shots Examined
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. You take setmelanotide as a daily shot. Never give setmelanotide to a child under 6 years old.
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 Lifestyle Modifications
"These medications alone will not shed the weight," says Dr. Tariq. All weight loss medications work best in the context of a healthy eating plan and exercise. To be clear, eating a lot less does drop the numbers on the scale. But exercise is still important - for your heart, bones, brain, and more. And the nutritional quality of your food matters, not just the quantity. Talya Kurzion, MS, RD, a clinical dietitian with UCSF Health, says patients taking GLP-1s should prioritize fruits and vegetables; whole grains; lean protein; and the healthy fats found in olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
The Future of 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.
The Role of Insurance Coverage and Cost
Insurance coverage varies and will affect many patients’ choices about going on weight loss medications. GLP-1s are notoriously costly. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates the annual net price of Wegovy at $13,600. and are not covered by insurance.
Addressing the Issue of Counterfeit Medications
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.
Obesity as a Chronic Disease
"As clinicians, we think of obesity as a chronic disease," says Dr. Tariq. Does that mean for the rest of a person's life? Possibly, says Dr. Tariq. But with enough success over the course of a year or two - and if good habits are built during that time - individuals may be able to continue their weight loss and maintenance without weight loss pills, Dr.
The Psychological and Social Aspects of Weight Loss
Online, speculation runs wild on what the rise of GLP-1s will mean for American culture and, in turn, our mental health. Are we devolving to a ’90s-era obsession with thinness? Social pressure to look thin never really went away. Nagata suggests that patients taking GLP-1s check in regularly with a physician or nutritionist who can monitor their progress and flag unhealthy behaviors. Thiara’s clinic also offers counseling.
The Risks of Over-the-Counter Fat Burners
Fat burner supplements are said to work by increasing your resting metabolic rate. The active ingredients help get rid of body fat. However, research is still needed on the effects of ingredients like caffeine on your heart rate and blood pressure. The effectiveness of fat burner supplements is still in question. Though they’re commonly used for weight loss, there’s not a lot of evidence that they work. These supplements claim to block fat or carbohydrate absorption, curb your appetite, or speed up your metabolism. At the same time, some of these supplements can interfere with other medications you are on. Since fat burner supplements aren’t FDA-approved, you can’t always be sure what’s inside. They can make any claim without factual evidence to support the claims. Because of this, you may be taking a health risk by taking them. Some studies on these supplements have found ingredients inside that aren’t listed on the bottle. Just because a supplement calls itself “natural” doesn’t mean that it’s safe. Some fat burner supplements have been linked to problems like liver damage.
tags: #slim #diet #pills #effectiveness