Serious health problems caused by weight can be helped by prescription weight-loss drugs for adults who have tried diet and exercise without success.
You should be aware that weight-loss drugs are only meant to be used alongside a healthy diet and exercise routine, and not as a replacement for it.
Who is a candidate for weight-loss drugs?
Your doctor may consider a weight-loss drug for you if you haven't been able to lose weight through diet and exercise and you meet one of the following:
- Your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 30.
- Your BMI is greater than 27 and you have a serious medical problem related to obesity, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Your doctor will take into account your medical history and existing health conditions before recommending a medication. They will also go over the advantages and disadvantages of taking prescription weight-loss drugs with you.
They also shouldn't be used with other weight-loss treatments, such as surgery, or with certain medications. Prescription weight-loss drugs are not recommended for use by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or in conjunction with other weight-loss treatments such as surgery or certain medications.
How well do weight-loss drugs work?
Weight-loss drugs that are prescribed by doctors and are meant to be used for more than 12 weeks can help people lose weight. Using a weight-loss drug in combination with making other lifestyle changes can help people lose more weight than just making lifestyle changes alone.
If someone starts off overweight, a year-long weight loss plan that includes moderate calorie restriction and increased exercise could result in a weight loss of 3-7% of their total body weight. This may not seem like much, but a consistent weight loss of 5-10% can have big impacts on someone's health, such as lowering their blood pressure, blood sugar, and triglyceride levels.
What you should know about weight-loss drugs
The text is talking about the side effects of a medication, and how they are common and usually mild, but can be serious.
Weight-loss drugs can be expensive, and your insurance company may or may not cover the cost. To find out if your insurance will cover the cost of weight-loss drugs, you will need to contact your insurance company.
While most people who take weight loss drugs end up gaining back some of the weight they lost, those who adopt healthy lifestyle habits are more likely to limit their weight gain.
How long does drug therapy last?
The amount of time you spend taking a weight-loss drug will be contingent upon how effective the drug is in helping you lose weight. If you are losing enough weight to improve your health and don't experience serious side effects, your doctor may advise that you take the drug long-term.
If you haven't lost at least 5% of your body weight after three to six months on the full dose of a drug, it's likely that your doctor will change your treatment and you may be switched to a different weight-loss drug.
There are many possible weight loss solutions out there.
There are a variety of options available for those looking to lose weight, including pills, drugs, and natural supplements. These options claim to help you lose weight, or at least make it easier to lose weight when combined with other methods.
They tend to work via one or more of these mechanisms:
- Reducing appetite, making you feel more full so that you eat fewer calories
- Reducing absorption of nutrients such as fat, making you take in fewer calories
- Increasing fat burning, making you burn more calories
Make sure to talk to a doctor or a registered dietitian before making any changes to your diet or taking any supplements, as few of these changes have any scientific basis and some could be harmful to your health.
Here are 12 popular weight loss pills and supplements, reviewed by science, that can help you separate the myths from facts.
What drugs are approved for weight loss?
Four weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for long-term use:
- Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
- Liraglutide (Saxenda)
- Orlistat (Xenical)
- Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
The vast majority of prescription weight-loss drugs function by either lessening hunger pangs or boosting feelings of satiety. A few do both simultaneously. The exception to this is orlistat, which instead works by hindering the body's absorption of fats.
Weight loss pills and supplements
1. Garcinia cambogia extract
After the 2012 airing of “The Dr. Oz Show”, Garcinia cambogia become a household name as it was now being featured on a show that was watched worldwide.
The fruit of the garcinia cambogia plant contains hydroxycitric acid, which is the active ingredient in a diet pill.
Animal studies have shown that it can reduce the production of a fat-producing enzyme in the body and increase serotonin levels, which could lead to reduced cravings.
The meta-analysis found that garcinia cambogia was not significantly more effective than a placebo at promoting weight loss. Researchers looked at four different electronic research databases to see if herbal medicines, including garcinia cambogia, are effective. They found that garcinia cambogia wasn't any more effective than a placebo at promoting weight loss.
After looking at 54 different trials, the authors found that there was no difference in weight or body fat percentage between the group taking garcinia cambogia and the placebo group.
A recent review showed that garcinia cambogia can help with weight loss, on average causing people to lose about 3 pounds.
According to Livestrong.com, these include: headache, dry mouth, dizziness, diarrhea, statuesque, and heart palpitations Although it is widely agreed that garcinia cambogia is safe to take in recommended amounts, there have been some serious side effects reported in recent years. According to Livestrong.com, these include headache, dry mouth, dizziness, diarrhea, statuesque, and heart palpitations.
In a 2018 study, four cases of women developing acute liver failure after taking weight loss supplements containing garcinia cambogia were documented (5Trusted Source).
Consuming garcinia cambogia may lead to liver impairment and episodes of mania, as well as other side effects.
2. Hydroxycut
Hydroxycut has been a popular weight loss supplement for over 10 years.
The brand's most common product is called “Hydroxycut.”
The drink contains several ingredients which its makers claim will help with weight loss. These ingredients include caffeine and extracts from several plants, such as green coffee extract.
The effectiveness of Hydroxycut, which contains green coffee extract, has been supported by a 2011 meta-analysis of five clinical trials. This meta-analysis found that, on average, participants who took Hydroxycut lost 5.5 pounds (2.47 kg) more than participants who took a placebo.
If you are sensitive to caffeine, you may experience some side effects such as anxiety, jitteriness, tremors, nausea, diarrhea, and irritability.
10Trusted SourceHydroxycut products were removed from shelves as a result of cardiovascular risks in 2004 and hepatotoxicity in 2009.
Serving as another potential Hydroxycut side effect is acute liver injury.
3. Green coffee bean extract
Green coffee beans are coffee beans that have not been roasted.
The pills contain caffeine and chlorogenic acid, which are both believed to aid in weight loss.
Caffeine and chlorogenic acid can work together to increase fat burning and slow the breakdown of carbohydrates.
Green coffee bean extract may promote weight loss, according to a few human studies.
A meta-analysis of all the current randomized control trials on green coffee bean extract’s effect on obesity found that the supplement has a significant impact on body mass index (14).
Green coffee bean extract provides several benefits such as reducing blood sugar levels and blood pressure, as well as being high in antioxidants.
Some potential side effects of consuming green coffee beans include experiencing the same side effects as if you had consumed caffeine, including diarrhea potentially caused by the chlorogenic acid found in green coffee beans. Additionally, some people may have an allergy to green coffee beans.
4. Caffeine
It’s found naturally in over 60 plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods. Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world. It’s found naturally in over 60 plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods.
Theobromine is found in coffee, green tea, dark chocolate and many processed foods and beverages.
Because it is thought that caffeine boosts metabolism, companies often add it to weight loss supplements sold commercially.
Caffeine has been shown to increase energy expenditure and fat breakdown, as well as thermogenesis, which is the production of body heat.
Some studies have found that caffeine can help people lose weight.
In some people, too much caffeine can cause anxiety, insomnia, jitteriness, irritability, nausea, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Caffeine can also be addictive and can reduce the quality of your sleep.
You don't need to take a supplement or pill with caffeine in it. The best sources of caffeine are quality coffee and green tea, which also have antioxidants and other health benefits.
5. Orlistat (Alli)
Orlistat is a pharmaceutical drug that is either sold over-the-counter under the brand-name Alli or as a prescription medication under the brand-name Xenical.
The weight loss pill works by preventing the breakdown of fat in your gut, which means you will consume fewer calories from fat.
A 2003 analysis of studies found that people taking orlistat combined with lifestyle changes saw a 2.9% greater weight reduction than the placebo group.
Some of the other benefits associated with Orlistat include a slight reduction in blood pressure as well as a potentially reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes when used in combination with other lifestyle changes.
This drug can cause many digestive problems, including diarrhea, gas, and frequent, difficult-to-control bowel movements. It may also decrease levels of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K.
A low carb diet without medication is as effective as a low fat diet with orlistat in minimizing side effects.
The two diets are effective for weight loss, but they don't have any significant difference in terms of blood sugar and blood lipid levels. However, combining orlistat with a low-fat diet can effectively lower blood pressure.
6. Raspberry ketones
The substance responsible for the distinct smell of raspberries is called raspberry ketone.
A version of raspberry ketones that is synthetic is sold in order to help with weight loss.
Raspberry ketones appear to promote weight loss by breaking down fat cells and increasing levels of the hormone adiponectin.
limited research on humans suggests raspberry ketones may slightly increase weight loss when taken for 8 weeks when compared to a placebo
One study using large doses showed that there was some delay in weight gain.
However, large doses of raspberry ketones were also linked with increased blood sugar levels and increased levels of ALT, a liver enzyme, which suggests liver damage.
The effects of this study have not been tested on humans and more research is needed to understand the potential benefits and risks.
7. Glucomannan
Glucomannan is a fiber found in the roots of the elephant yam.
The fiber expands in your stomach, helping you to feel full and eat less.
The effectiveness of glucomannan for weight loss was shown in one clinical trial, but only among participants who took the supplement consistently for 60 days.
Some additional benefits of glucomannan include its ability to feed the friendly bacteria in the intestine and lower blood sugar, blood cholesterol, and triglycerides. It is also effective against constipation.
Possible side effects of the medication include bloating, flatulence, soft stools, and interference with some oral medications if taken at the same time.
8. Meratrim
Meratrim is a new diet pill on the market.
This supplement is a combination of two plant extracts, Sphaeranthus indicus and Garcinia mangostana, which may change the way fat cells are metabolized.
The way it is supposed to work is by making it more difficult for fat cells to reproduce, reducing the amount of fat cells that are created, and helping those fat cells to burn stored fat.
After 8 weeks, those who took the Meratrim had significantly lower weight, BMI and waist circumference. The effectiveness of Meratrim is not well understood as there are very few studies on the topic. One study involved 60 obese people who were placed on a strict 2,000-calorie diet and given increased physical activity, with either Meratrim or a placebo. After 8 weeks, those who took the Meratrim had significantly lower weight, BMI and waist circumference.
In 8 weeks, the Meratrim group saw a weight loss of 11 pounds and a decrease of 4.7 inches in their waistline.
A different study found that Meratrim can help reduce appetite over a long period of time (39).
Side effects: No side effects have been reported.
9. Green tea extract
Many weight loss supplements contain green tea extract because it contains the main antioxidant EGCG, which may aid fat burning according to numerous studies.
Green tea extract is believed to prevent enzymes such as pancreatic lipase from working, which can help treat obesity by reducing fat absorption.
Green tea extract is effective at increasing fat burning and causing fat loss when paired with exercise, especially in the belly area.
These symptoms include nervousness, insomnia, heart palpitations and restlessness. The side effects of green tea extract are usually mild and include caffeine sensitivity. Symptoms of caffeine sensitivity include nervousness, insomnia, heart palpitations, and restlessness.
Not only does green tea have health benefits, but so does green tea extract.
10. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
CLA is a fat loss supplement that has been popular for years.
Although it is not as harmful as other trans fats, it is still not good for you and should be avoided.
CLA appears to work by reducing appetite, boosting metabolism, and stimulating the breakdown of body fat.
CLA has been found to cause weight loss in people of all ages, with the average weight loss being 1.1 pounds (0.52 kg). This number increases to 2.3 pounds (1.05 kg) in people over the age of 44.
The 2012 review found that CLA may help you lose about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg), which is small compared to a placebo. The authors question if this small effect is actually clinically relevant.
Taking CLA supplements can result in digestive side effects and potentially harmful long-term effects, including fatty liver, insulin resistance, and increased inflammation.
Prescription medications for weight loss
Some prescription weight loss pills have been found to be effective.
The most common ones are Contrave and Phentermine.
Although prescription weight loss pills may help with weight loss, on average they only result in a loss of 3-9% of body weight compared to a placebo.
You should only take weight loss pills if you are also following a healthy diet, as they will not be effective on their own and are not a good long-term solution for obesity. There are also many possible side effects of taking these pills.
