Losing weight might just be the most challenging thing anyone ever tries to do, especially for those who are over a certain BMI. In the USA today, only around 25% of the adult population falls into the category of a “healthy weight” on the standard BMI scale, with around 42% considered obese and the remainder overweight.

Often, diet and exercise alone are not enough, and regardless of what they do, the weight just won’t budge. What many do not understand is that everyone’s body reacts differently to weight loss initiatives, and there can also be certain things that affect their body’s ability to create a calorie deficit so they can lose weight. Conditions like a hormone imbalance or certain medications can impede even the best weight loss efforts. Your body can also work against your weight loss efforts by slowing down your metabolism or storing fat as part of its natural response to a decline in calorie intake. Prescription weight loss medication can often help break through these challenges and promote weight loss.

If you have been struggling with trying to reach a healthy weight and are interested in looking into medical intervention, you may be wondering how to ask your doctor for weight loss pills. Today we are going to talk about the different forms of medications for weight loss and things you can do to prepare yourself for this important conversation with your doctor.

An Overview Of Weight Loss Medication

Before you ask your doctor for weight loss medication, you should familiarize yourself with the different options and learn how they work, how and how often each is administered, potential side effects, and any associated contraindications it may have.

Prescription weight loss medications are designed to help people lose weight by suppressing their appetite, increasing the rate at which their body burns calories, slowing down the speed their stomach empties, blocking fat absorption, etc. These medications are normally recommended for people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 27 who suffer from weight-related conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure or for those with a BMI of 30 or more.

Some of the most common prescription weight loss medications include:

Weight Loss Injections

It may seem a bit confusing because even though it is the same prescription medication, each is called by two different names, but this was done deliberately to identify which was designed to treat diabetes and which is meant for weight loss. While each of the two is the same prescription drug, the dosage for weight loss is stronger than when it is used to only control blood sugar.

For purposes of the bullet points below, the first brand name mentioned is the medication meant to treat diabetes, and the second is the brand name given to the medication when it is used for weight management. For example, Victoza is liraglutide that is used for blood sugar control, and Saxenda is also liraglutide but used to help individuals lose weight.

Victoza or Saxenda® (liraglutide): This was the first GLP-1 medication to be approved for weight loss by the FDA and works by mimicking the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormones that are naturally created by your body during the digestion process. These natural hormones are responsible for regulating your appetite and blood sugar levels. Saxenda is a once-daily injection that is administered into a fatty area of the body.
Ozempic or Wegovy® (semaglutide): Ozempic medication was originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and blood sugar control. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is a GLP-1 agonist, which means it mimics the naturally occurring hormones in your body that work within your digestive system and control the efficiency of your metabolism and can help with weight loss by reducing your hunger and slowing down your digestion so you feel full longer. Building on this, the medication was later adapted into Wegovy®, a weight loss injection that is administered once weekly into an area with fatty tissue like the upper arm, abdomen, or thigh.
Mounjaro or Zepbound™ (tirzepatide): Similar to Wegovy, this weight loss injection was first developed to help individuals control their blood sugar levels but was found to be very effective in helping individuals lose a significant amount of weight. This is the most recent medication to be approved by the FDA for obesity management and so far is proving to be the most effective.; Tirzepatide is a bit different from the others because it is the only medication that mimics two different glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormones: GLP-1 and GIP. The combination of the two helps better control blood sugar levels, keeps your appetite under control, and enhances the performance of your metabolism. This medication is administered through weekly injections in the upper arm, thigh, or abdomen.

Weight Loss Pills

Oral prescription weight loss medications have been around much longer than the injectables that are becoming very popular today. Many of the medications that are available in injection format are also available in an oral form, which may be preferable for those who do not like needles or need more shelf-stable options. Other weight loss drugs that are available as pills include:

Qsymia® (phentermine-topiramate): This oral weight loss drug contains a combination of two drugs that work together to reduce your appetite and help control food cravings. It was approved by the FDA in 2012 as an effective option for achieving long-term weight management;
Contrave® (naltrexone-bupropion): This medication works by influencing the chemicals in the brain that influence food cravings and emotional eating. It helps to suppress your appetite and keeps you feeling satisfied for a longer time so you eat less and lose weight.

Prepare To Ask Your Doctor For Weight Loss Pills

Weight loss medications are not magic and are meant to be used as a tool to help you reach a healthy weight and improve your metabolic health. Doctors have a responsibility to ensure that you understand what the medication can and cannot do and that you have realistic expectations and are committed to taking an active part in your weight loss journey. Some of the things you can do to get ready to ask your doctor for weight loss medications include:

Be ready to talk about your weight history, and if possible, bring notes about your previous weight changes.
Keep a journal of your diet and a record of your exercise habits, and be prepared to talk about any challenges you have faced in your efforts to lose weight.
Make a list of any health conditions you have dealt with in the past or are currently experiencing, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc., because often these conditions demonstrate that you are a good candidate for weight loss medication.
Make a list of any medications you are currently taking as well as supplements so the doctor has as much information as possible when determining the best choice for you.
Make sure to be honest about the struggles you have had with weight loss before and provide details about what methods you have tried that have not worked for you.
Take time to research the different weight loss medication options so you have an idea of what might work for you and why.
Check your medical insurance plan to see if any of the medications you research would be covered.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor about Weight Loss Meds

Write down any questions you want to ask so you can have as much information as possible and can make an informed decision. Some questions you may wish to ask include:

What weight loss medication do you think would work best for me?
What are the benefits and side effects of this medication?
How long will I need to take this medication?

Starting The Conversation: How to Ask Your Doctor for Weight Loss Medication

First, you should choose a doctor who is trained in obesity medicine and understands the complexity of the disease. A general practitioner is most likely not going to specialize in or have expertise in treating obesity itself, but rather the comorbidities associated with excess weight. A weight loss specialist like Dr. Okeefe Simmons, with Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions, is the best choice if you are looking for non-surgical options like weight loss medications for sustainable weight management.

When you speak with your chosen professional, it is important you be open and direct about the concerns you have and communicate to them what type of help you are looking for. You may want to start the conversation by saying something similar to this:

“I have had weight issues for many years, and I have not been able to lose weight with diet and exercise alone. I would like to find out what types of prescription medications might be able to help me.”

“I have been doing some research about weight loss medications, and I want to know if one of them might be right for me.”

“I am concerned about my health because of my weight, and I wanted to speak with you about using weight loss medication in addition to my diet and exercise.”

What You Can Expect From A Weight Loss Doctor

The doctor will set up a consultation with you, and this is where all your preparation will come in handy. You can provide the doctor with the answers they need to determine if you are a good candidate for weight loss medication as well as which one would be best for you.

This will also show that you have put some thought into this decision and give you an opportunity to demonstrate that you are serious about making the permanent lifestyle changes needed so the medication will be effective.

Most weight loss doctors that prescribe these medications will make sure you understand that achieving sustainable weight loss will require lifestyle changes. They also may recommend working with a nutritionist or increasing the amount of physical activity you get each day.

Weight Loss Medication And Lifestyle Changes Work Together

The medications we have available to us today to help promote weight loss can be very effective when used in conjunction with the traditional methods needed to create a calorie deficit. Many people do not understand how complex weight loss can be and how their bodies respond to the different strategies they use. Medication can help, but healthy lifestyle habits need to be practiced consistently to get the best results. Some of the other things that can affect your success at losing weight include:

Eating a healthy diet and avoiding highly processed foods, sugary snacks and beverages, alcohol, etc. Focus instead on eating whole foods, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables;
Get enough exercise. Creating a calorie deficit so you can burn fat requires you to get your body moving. Find an activity you like to do, like walking, swimming, or anything that gets you up and around. Include cardio and strength training in your weekly exercise routine to get the best results;
Make sure to get at least 7 hours of good sleep each night. Lack of sleep can affect the hunger hormone levels in your body and prevent you from losing weight or even lead to weight gain;
Get your stress under control because high-stress levels can lead to a surge of the hormone cortisol, which keeps your body from burning fat cells and can lead to emotional eating. Find some relaxation techniques that work for you, like yoga, meditation, or another activity that works to help you relax.

Choose The Best Doctor

Select a doctor who is experienced in obesity and offers a wide range of non-surgical weight loss solutions, like Dr. Okeefe Simmons at Simmons MD Advanced Weight Loss Solutions in Miami. He is a highly skilled gastroenterologist and an expert specializing in medical weight loss, and he and his team will provide you with a personalized treatment plan to help you reach your goals for better health.

If you have tried to get healthier on your own but have struggled to lose weight, do not be afraid to seek help from knowledgeable professionals. The right treatment and support system can make a significant difference in your weight loss journey and the longevity of your results.

You can reach your weight loss goals and enhance your health by doing some research, preparing for your appointment, asking the right questions, and working with an experienced doctor like Dr. Simmons. Set up your consultation today and find out if weight loss medication would be the right choice for you.