I want to lose weight. Are the new ‘weight-loss’ drugs right for me?

There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Ozempic® for patients looking to lose weight.

Although they are all in the same medication class known as Incretins, Wegovy is FDA-approved specifically for weight loss in patients with obesity, while Ozempic® and Mounjaro are FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes management.

One of the primary mechanisms of how these medications work is by making the patient feel less hungry and full faster.

Obesity affects over 40% of adults in the U.S. and is linked to over 200 medical diseases, from cardiovascular disease and cancer to depression.

Unfortunately, a magic pill for obesity doesn’t exist. Most people do not realize that these weight-loss drugs stop working after you stop taking them. Excess weight gain is a chronic condition just like high blood pressure or high cholesterol and will likely need some degree of medical support long term.

Several factors come into play when deciding on the right approach and if medication is right for you. Your doctor can recommend the best option for you.

By David. T. Ahn, M.D.