Medically reviewed in January 2022
Does taking weight-loss medication actually help you drop pounds? And if so, which one might work best for you?
For a study published in JAMA in 2016, researchers analyzed the effects of five weight-loss drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Over the course of 52 weeks, each medication was associated with at least a 5 percent drop in pounds—and some worked better than others.
The problem
Globally, 1.9 billion adults are overweight, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on body mass index (BMI), about 650 million of these people are considered to be obese. BMI is an estimate of the amount of fat in your body derived from your height and weight. A person with a BMI of greater than or equal to 25 is deemed to be overweight. An obese person has a BMI greater than or equal to 30.
There are numerous health risks associated with being overweight or obese, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Dropping between 5 and 10 percent of your body weight can improve your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels—and lower your chances of many of the complications linked to excess weight.
The study set-up
For the JAMA study, scientists looked at data from 28 randomized clinical trials involving more than 29,000 overweight and obese adult patients. Each patient had been treated with an FDA-approved long-term weight loss medication for at least one year.
The medications were approved for obese patients or for those with a BMI greater than or equal to 27 who had at least one weight-related health condition. Such conditions included type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.
The results
Of the patients in the JAMA study who took a placebo, 23 percent experienced at least a 5 percent weight loss. Those who took a prescription drug all had higher rates of success.
The medications phentermine-topiramate (Osymia), liraglutide (Saxenda), naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave) and locaserin (Belviq) are designed to decrease appetite and increase fullness. In the study, about 75 percent of phentermine-topiramate users experienced at least a 5 percent drop in body weight, compared to 63 percent of liraglutide users, 55 percent of naltrexone-bupropion users and 49 percent of locaserin users.
The fifth medication, orlistat (Xenical), blocks fat absorption. In the study, 44 percent of orlistat patients experienced at least a 5 percent weight loss—for an average of 5.7 pounds lost within a year.
Would weight-loss medication work for you?
Before taking any weight loss medication, you should always consult with your healthcare provider (HCP), as dropping pounds should be a highly individualized process. Your HCP can assess your health condition, recommend lifestyle changes and prescribe drugs if it’s the right choice for you. They can also advise you of any weight-loss medication side effects, which may include headache, nausea, dry mouth, increased blood pressure and constipation.
To note: Belviq, one of the five medications in the study, is no longer available in the U.S. The FDA raised concerns about the drug in February 2020 because it was linked to an increased cancer occurrence during trials. The manufacturer, Eisai, agreed to pull it from shelves.
