In the last few years, The federal drug administration has approved several medications for Weight loss. These medications are indicated for individuals with a BMI greater than 30, or greater than 27 with obesity related disease (e.g. Diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease etc.).

All of these medications were studied extensively and showed clear benefit to long-term weight loss and maintenance.

Medications should be prescribed along with counseling about nutrition, physical activity and behavior change.

All medications have been proven to be safe and improve multiple metabolic markers as well as facilitate Weight-loss up to 10% (depending on the medication).

I believe that prescribing the right medications could assist the patients on their journey for a healthy weight and lifestyle. Obesity is now recognized as a disease which negatively affects the patient’s health, and increases mortality, and significantly decreases quality of life .

Obesity should be treated just like diabetes, with lifestyle modification, and sometimes multiple medications.

Medications differ in their mechanism, Outcome and side effects. Given in the right dose, they are mostly well-tolerated. There are different groups of medications for weight loss:

• Appetite suppressants which work centrally (central nervous system) to diminish appetite and increase satiety.
• Medications that increase metabolism and energy expenditure.
• Medications which work on the gastrointestinal tract to diminish nutrients absorption or facilitate gut hormones to increase satiety and suppress appetite.

Medication and treatment for weight loss has become a core pillar in the treatment of overweight and obese individuals, and is included in published guidelines of the Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) and The Obesity Society (TOS).

Ask me which medication is appropriate for you. I will further advise you on the pros and cons of each medication.

Eldad Einav MD. FACC.

Board certified by American Board of obesity medicine. Member of obesity medicine association (OMA). Board certified in cardiovascular disease ‏and internal medicine.