UI Health Care Expert Answers Common Questions About Weight Loss Drugs
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: NICK BEECHER
Physician Leon Jons, a weight management specialist at UI Health Care and clinical associate professor of internal medicine at the Carver College of Medicine, helps patients lose weight—and keep it off. According to a 2024 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, 4 in 10 Americans have obesity, which puts them at a higher risk for long-term health concerns. Here, Jons answers questions on how weight loss drugs can be used to help manage one’s health.
What are common myths about weight loss drugs?
The most common concern patients have is whether they will regain all their weight if they stop these medications. In general, patients do not always regain the weight. However, weight loss maintenance is much more difficult to achieve than weight loss. Having a good behavioral plan in place and having plenty of physical activity are important in helping patients maintain weight.
What are the most common weight loss drugs, and how do they work?
Many prescription medications are available to help individuals with weight loss through controlling hunger, meal size, and cravings. Examples of medications that have been available for many years include phentermine, Qsymia, Contrave, and Saxenda. Newer medications that have become popular include Wegovy and Zepbound. These last two are injectable medications that mimic proteins that our bodies naturally make called incretins. They were originally introduced as diabetic medications but had the effect of causing significant weight loss by helping control eating behavior.
Are weight loss drugs suitable for everyone?
These medications can have significant effects on weight loss, with patients able to lose between 11–22% or more of their weight. They are not for everyone. Individuals have different causes of weight gain and different medical issues that are important to understand when considering weight loss. Side effects also can limit their use.
Do I need to make lifestyle changes on weight loss medication?
Successful weight management includes understanding a person’s reasons for weight gain, barriers, and medical problems. Treatment first revolves around behavioral interventions. If there’s a reason to be more aggressive, then medications and bariatric surgery can be considered.