Weight Loss Medication
Weight loss medications are prescription drugs that help control your appetite and food cravings. Some medications also help you feel fuller sooner. Some people who take these medicines report less “food noise” in their brains. Thinking about food less often can make it easier to eat less and make healthier food choices.
Feeling less hungry helps you eat fewer calories. This leads to weight loss. Some medications also help decrease cravings. You’re less tempted to eat fatty, salty, sweets or high-calorie foods if you have fewer cravings. This is especially helpful if you deal with emotional eating or compulsive eating.
You may qualify for weight loss medication based on your age and body mass index (BMI):
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BMI above 27 with a weight-related condition such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure
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BMI above 30 with or without a weight-related condition
Some of the medications aren’t suitable for those under 18. Your provider will help explain what treatment is best for you.
Find an Obesity Medicine Specialist
Comprehensive Medical Weight Management
Obesity medicine specialists at University of Utah Health understand the complex causes of weight gain. Anything from your genetics to your environment and stress levels can affect your weight. Even certain medications and health conditions may cause weight gain.
We know how difficult weight management can be. We’re here to help you get to the root cause of why you’ve gained weight—and what to do about it. Together, we’ll build an individualized plan and work to achieve your weight loss goals.
Our team offers all the necessary tools to help you lose weight. We also work with you to make lasting changes in your life and health. You will have access to a comprehensive team:
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Registered dietitians—You’ll join a class with the registered dietician to review our program’s dietary recommendations. Then, you can meet one-on-one with the registered dietitian to create a nutrition plan for your individual needs.
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Exercise physiologist—This specialist offers both one-on-one and group appointments. They will perform body scans and check how many calories your body burns at rest. They’ll create individualized exercise plans and help you learn to exercise safely and more effectively.
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Psychologist—These experts specialize in dysfunctional relationships with food, eating behaviors, and binge eating. They offer compassion-based group therapy, intuitive eating guidance, and one-on-one therapy.
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Sleep medicine provider—A sleep medicine provider helps if you’re at risk for, or have, obstructive sleep apnea. This provider coordinates sleep testing to diagnose sleep apnea. They also help you adjust to using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. CPAP is a common treatment for sleep apnea.
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Liver specialist—A liver specialist cares for you if you’re at risk for, or have, liver disease. They offer noninvasive testing that checks for liver scarring.
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Cardiologist—We also work closely with cardiologist colleagues to care for patients with heart failure and cardiac conditions.
Weight Loss Pills
Your provider may prescribe medications you take by mouth:
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Phentermine—This drug helps suppress your appetite. Patients have been using it for weight loss since the 1970s. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a low dose of phentermine (15 milligrams) combined with topiramate (Topamax®) for long-term use. This drug combination is called Qsymia®. You may also take 8 milligrams of phentermine in a drug called Lomaira™.
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Topiramate—This drug helps manage cravings and reduces binge eating. You often take it along with phentermine. Topiramate is an anticonvulsant, which means it helps treat seizures. In lower doses, it can also treat migraines and binge eating.
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Naltrexone/bupropion—This is a combination pill known as Contrave®. Higher doses of naltrexone (Revia®) typically treat alcohol or substance addiction. Bupropion (Wellbutrin®) typically treats depression. These two medicines work together to lower your appetite and control cravings.
Weight Loss Medication Injections
You may take weight loss medication as an injection. Injectable medications have treated diabetes for years, and some now treat obesity. Most of the injectable medications are GLP1 and GIP receptor agonists, which mimic hormones that manage hunger, insulin, and digestion. They help you feel fuller, lower your appetite, and reduce your cravings. They also lower blood sugar in people with diabetes. Some may also help prevent heart attack and stroke or improve conditions such as sleep apnea and fatty liver disease.
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Liraglutide (Saxenda®, Victoza®)—This is a GLP1 receptor agonist that treats overweight and obese patients who are 12 years and older. It was the first injectable medication approved for weight loss back in 2014. This is a daily injection. Saxenda® and Victoza® are the same medication. However, Victoza® treats diabetes and Saxenda® treats obesity.
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Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®)—This is a GLP1 receptor agonist that treats overweight and obese patients who are 12 years and older. This is a weekly injection. Recent studies show that it can treat fatty liver disease and lower risk of heart attack and stroke. Wegovy® and Ozempic® are the same medication. However, Ozempic® treats diabetes and Wegovy® treats obesity.
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Tirzepatide (Zepbound™, Mounjaro®)—This is a GLP1/GIP receptor agonist that treats overweight and obese patients who are 18 years and older. This is a weekly injection. Recent studies show that it can treat sleep apnea and reduce heart failure risk. It helps you feel fuller, lowers your appetite, and decreases food cravings. It also lowers blood sugar in people with diabetes. Zepbound™ and Mounjaro® are the same medication. However, Mounjaro® treats diabetes, and Zepbound™ treats obesity.
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Setmelanotide (Imcivree™)—This is a medication that treat patients with rare forms of obesity related to genetic conditions. It’s a once-daily injection that’s safe for people who are six years and older.
These medications are extremely effective tools for weight loss. However, you should work with an obesity medicine specialist to manage your dosage, monitor for side effects, and give medical guidance. This collaboration is the best way to lose weight and improve your health.
Diabetes Medications and Weight Loss
Some diabetes medications can help people with diabetes lose weight. Your body makes more insulin when you take these medications. More insulin in your body means you will have lower blood sugar. This helps control diabetes. These drugs can also make you feel less hungry and cause weight loss.
These injectable drugs may be especially useful if you have type 2 diabetes:
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Diraglutide (Trulicity®)
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Liraglutide (Saxenda®, Victoza®)
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Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®)
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Tirzepatide (Zepbound™, Mounjaro®)
Medical Weight Management: What to Expect
We’ll send you some forms after we receive your appointment request or referral. We’ll review these forms to see if you’re eligible for our program.
If you’re eligible, your first appointment is a virtual group visit with our registered dietitian (RD). This RD will review the diet changes our team recommends. You should start making these changes right away to start your weight loss journey.
You will meet with the RD in person after 30 days of making these diet changes. Then you will meet with a weight loss specialist to review your medical history. This specialist outlines a personalized, comprehensive weight management plan for you.
How Quickly Do Weight Loss Medications Work?
Most people lose about 1–2 pounds per week while taking weight loss medicines, and sometimes even more. These medications work best when you also eat healthy foods and get regular physical activity.
You will likely start losing weight within the first few weeks of treatment. Your obesity medicine specialist may switch your medication or treatment if you haven’t lost more than 5% of your body weight within 12 weeks.
Side Effects of Weight Loss Medications
Every medication has potential side effects. Your obesity medicine specialist will ask about your medical history and consider medical conditions and your preferences before we give you any medications. This way, we make sure that your medicine is safe and works best for you.
You may lose about 25% of your muscle mass as you lose weight. This can cause your metabolism to burn calories more slowly. It can also increase the risk of bone fractures in older adults. You should eat enough protein and do strength training (muscle-building exercises) at least two or three days per week to lower these risks. Our team can help guide you and formulate a plan for success.
Our obesity medicine specialists know the potential side effects of weight loss drugs. They monitor you closely through follow-up visits every three months.
What Insurance Plans Cover Weight Loss Medication?
Some insurance plans cover weight loss medications, while others don’t. Our team will help you understand your insurance coverage and costs before starting treatment.
Make an Appointment
You can fill out an appointment request online. Or, your provider can submit a referral. You must have a BMI of 27 or higher to schedule an appointment with one of our medical weight loss specialists.
Weight Management in the News
Good Things Utah: Healthy Habits
Telemundo: la obesidad y la perdida de peso
Resources for Our Patients
Meet the Team
Our comprehensive weight management team is here to help you successfully lose weight and support you in your weight loss journey. We can provide all the care you need, from surgeons and physician assistants to dietitians and even financial advocates.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Why Is It So Hard to Lose Weight?
How much you weigh is controlled by complex interactions between hormones and neurons in your hypothalamus. For most overweight people, their body tries to prevent permanent weight loss. This means your body is actually working against you to lose weight.
How Many Meals Should I Be Eating Each Day to Lose Weight?
Looking to lose some weight? You've probably heard that eating five small meals a day is the secret. What does the research suggest? A registered dietitian clears up the confusion about how many meals you should eat.
