In the past year or so, certain weight loss medications have garnered a lot of attention and interest. There’s no shortage of advertisements promoting these medications on television, online, and throughout social media. But, do they really work? Who are they truly appropriate for?
Dr. Rachel Shell, Riverside Healthcare Obesity Specialist and Way to Healthy Living Medical Director, and Nicole Potts, Registered Dietitian (RD), offer clarity and important information surrounding these options.

How Did These Weight Loss Medications Come About?

Most of the trending weight loss medications fall into a category called GLPs (glucagon-like peptide). Glucagon-like peptide is a hormone that attaches to multiple receptors throughout the body to regulate hunger, insulin production by the pancreas, and sugar production by the liver.
This hormone helps control sugars in persons with diabetes, which is what the medications were originally studied for and approved for use. They were released under brand names Victoza, Ozempic, Trulicity, and Mounjaro. But, additional studies were completed to prove that these drugs also induced weight loss. Today, there are multiple GLPs approved for the indication of obesity management. They are marketed under the names of Saxenda, Wegovy, and ZepBound.

Weighing the Pros and Cons

Anytime a person is considering taking a medication, it’s essential to have a thorough discussion with their healthcare provider to understand exactly what is involved. For example, Dr. Shell explains the potential side effects of GLPs as being nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. More serious complications include pancreatitis and medullary thyroid cancer, but they are also rarer.

“All medications have potential risks. As a provider, we look at those risks and weigh them against the benefits to determine if a patient is an appropriate candidate for taking the medication,” she states. “I always would advise a patient who is interested in taking a medication that's new to them to have that discussion with their provider regarding the pros and cons prior to initiation.”

The Weigh to Healthy Living: Multidisciplinary, Medically-Supervised Program

In order to be successful with weight loss medications, it’s imperative that individuals also focus on lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. At Riverside, the Weigh to Healthy Living Program’s goals are to help people develop new healthy habits—geared not only to achieve weight loss but also to reduce risk factors of chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease, diabetes).

“This six-month program is a multidisciplinary, medically-supervised approach to weight loss. Patients meet with an endocrinologist, a registered dietitian, an exercise specialist at the Riverside Fitness Center, and a behavior therapist who all work together to develop a plan that is best for the patient,” explains Potts. “There are also virtual sessions to be completed monthly which provide educational information on different nutritional topics.”

“All of this combined gives patients a partnership, and a tool, to help make changes and sustain that lifestyle intervention we know is key to success in weight loss,” adds Dr. Shell.

Some insurance companies do cover weight loss medications and programs like Weigh to Healthy Living. Dr. Shell advises checking with your insurance provider to get more information about potential coverage options. For more information about endocrinology services at Riverside click here.