It’s all over TikTok, celebrity gossip magazines and even the news — discussion about the new weight loss drugs, such as Saxenda and Wegovy. But are these medications really a magic drug for weight loss?

“While many people lose a lot of weight on these medications, other results are more modest,” says Leigh Daigle, MD, bariatric physician at Methodist Medical Group Weight Management & Wellness. “And like with any medication, there can be side effects. Ultimately, however, obesity is a chronic disease that needs chronic treatment and management. There is no single magic drug or diet that cures it.”

How Are the New Weight Loss Drugs Different?

Weight loss drugs have existed for decades, with varying results. In the 1950s and ‘60s, amphetamines were commonly prescribed for weight loss. These can be addictive and have other unpleasant side effects. In the 1990s, two new drugs, fenfluramine and phentermine (“fen-phen”), became popular. Then, health professionals discovered that the combination caused heart valve damage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled fenfluramine from use, while phentermine is still safe for use in some patients.

The new class of weight loss treatments act differently on the body. Called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, these drugs mimic the hormone GLP-1, which helps to regulate insulin and blood sugar. That’s why these types of medications were originally designed to help people with Type 2 diabetes. However, the drugs also appear to slow down digestion, resulting in people feeling less hungry and staying full for a longer period, which can potentially help with weight loss.

Semaglutide (which is sold as Ozempic or Rybelsus for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss) is the most well-known of these medications, but others include liraglutide (sold as Victoza for diabetes and Saxenda for weight loss), dulaglitide (Trulicity, diabetes) and exenatide (Byetta and Bydureon, diabetes). Tirzepatide (Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss) is a dual agonist of GLP-1 and GIP, which is slightly different. Some of these drugs are daily pills or injections, while others are weekly injections.

Weight Loss Is Common

The information about weight loss with semaglutide medications is promising. In a 2022 study that followed almost 2,000 patients who didn’t have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, patients who used a 2.4 mg dose of semaglutides (rather than placebo) and received regular registered dietitian visits for counseling lost almost 15% of their baseline weight in about a 16-month period. For a 250-pound person, that’s a loss of almost 38 pounds.

While that weight loss may be considered modest for the time period, the benefits didn’t stop there. Patients in the study who received the semaglutides also improved their waist circumference, blood pressure and blood sugar levels while also reporting physical and emotional improvements to their quality of life. Adding regular exercise and making improvements to your diet may offer more dramatic results.

“If you’ve seen celebrities dropping a lot of weight and have assumed they must be on semaglutide, chances are they are combining the medication with a strenuous exercise regime and diet for those dramatic changes,” Dr. Daigle says. “Multiple studies have found that even small amounts of weight loss can be enough to improve chronic conditions such as high blood pressure.”

The most common side effects of semaglutide and similar medications are gastrointestinal. Problems can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, gas and heartburn. Headache and fatigue are also common side effects. Rarer problems include an increased risk of pancreatitis and thyroid cancer. Many people find the side effects go away after a few weeks. Some side effects may also increase with a higher dose of medication.

Long-Term Effects (and Long-Term Weight Loss) Are Still Unknown

Since the new weight loss drugs are so new, no one knows if there are negative repercussions to staying on them for a long time for weight management. Early research suggests people gain back some, if not most, of the weight they lose once they stop taking the medications.

“Losing weight with these medications is best when paired with healthy eating and an active lifestyle for long-term weight loss, but we still don’t have the longitudinal research we need for weight maintenance,” Dr. Daigle says.

However, even short-term weight loss may help patients lower their body mass index (BMI) enough to safely go through certain surgeries, such as knee replacements. And new drugs are likely to be on the market within the next few years that may have better results or fewer side effects.

Talk to a Doctor About Your Weight Loss Options

If you’re interested in losing weight, talk to a doctor. Methodist Medical Group Weight Management & Wellness can help assess your non-surgical and surgical options and find a plan that works for you.

Contact Our Weight Loss Specialists

Interested in learning more about healthy ways to lose weight? Schedule an appointment with the experts at Methodist Medical Group – Weight Management & Wellness by calling 901-758-7840.

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