Be sure to read and understand your insurance coverage. At your first visit, a medical provider will meet with you. This consultation can include:. Many patients come to the clinic with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, or sleep apnea.

Your HCP may recommend additional tests based on your medical history and the initial physical exam. Pre-packaged meal replacement plans are a medically supervised weight-loss program.

They use meal replacement options along with lifestyle modifications and behavior change counseling to help people reach and maintain their weight-loss and health goals. These programs work as a transition to a healthier, self-prepared nutrition plan while offering education and support.

Examples of these programs include:. How Does it Work? Individuals who are interested in starting a supervised weight-loss program must do so through an HCP. Most programs list participating providers on their websites. A medically supervised weight-loss program has individualized phases.

The phases generally begin with meal replacements and transition to the use of self-prepared foods for long-term weight-loss. These programs also include guidance from a team of HCPs, access to group or individual counseling, and other support options.

Each program will vary and it is important to discuss them with your healthcare provider to find the best option for you. Weight-loss: Individual results will vary, but patients may lose as much as 50 pounds or more over 18 to 24 weeks.

Concerns: As with any meal replacement program, there are concerns about the ability of participants to successfully readjust to eating healthy, self-prepared foods following the meal replacement phase.

Additionally, insurance coverage varies, so interested individuals need to review their health insurance policy and contact their health insurance company if they have questions or concerns about their coverage.

Who is a Candidate for Medications to help treat Obesity? While everyone would love a magic pill to help them with weight loss, the reality is that lifestyle changes remain the best option for long-term success. Many people have found that lifestyle changes, combined with medications that aid in weight-loss have been very effective.

The FDA has approved six prescription medications for use in people with a BMI over 30 or a BMI over 27 when a patient has additional obesity-related conditions.

You cannot make the decision to take these medications alone. They are available by prescription only, and you will need to discuss them with your HCP. Currently, they are not approved for patients to use during pregnancy. It is important to know that everyone responds differently to medications.

The average result will be seen by most people who take the medication, while others will see a larger amount of weight-loss or none at all. Work with your HCP to set realistic goals and develop a complete understanding of the potential results and side effects of medications used to treat obesity.

This will help you plan for success and prepare for any set-backs on your journey with weight-loss. Insurance coverage of prescription weight-loss medications varies by state and by an insurance provider.

How does it work? Phentermine is a weight-loss medication that is available by prescription only and has been FDA-approved since It works on chemicals in your brain to decrease your appetite and includes a mild stimulant to give you energy.

Phentermine is a pill taken once a day in the morning and is intended for short-term use. Common side effects are dry mouth and sleepiness. For a person weighing pounds, that means about a pound weight-loss.

Concerns: The stimulant may increase your blood pressure and heart rate, so you must be monitored by an HCP who is experienced in prescribing this medication. Patients with some heart conditions such as uncontrolled blood pressure , glaucoma, stroke, or overactive thyroid should avoid this medication.

Before choosing a medicine for you, your health care provider thinks about your history and health challenges. Then your provider talks with you about the pros and cons of prescription weight-loss drugs.

These drugs aren't for everyone. For example, you shouldn't take prescription weight-loss drugs if you're trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding. Prescription weight-loss drugs that you can use for more than 12 weeks, called long-term use, lead to major weight loss compared with an inactive treatment that doesn't use medicine, called a placebo.

The combination of weight-loss medicine and lifestyle changes leads to greater weight loss than do lifestyle changes alone. That may not seem like a lot. For example, it can lower blood pressure, blood sugar levels and levels of fats in the blood called triglycerides.

Mild side effects, such as nausea, constipation and diarrhea, are common. They may lessen over time. Rarely, serious side effects can happen. That's why it's important to ask your health care provider about all treatment choices. And ask about the possible benefits and risks of each drug.

Weight-loss drugs can be expensive and aren't always paid for by insurance. Ask your insurance company about your coverage. Many people gain back some of the weight they lost when they stop taking weight-loss drugs. But practicing healthy lifestyle habits may help limit weight gain. How long you take a weight-loss drug depends on whether the drug helps you lose weight.

If you've lost enough weight to improve your health and you haven't had serious side effects, your health care provider may suggest that you take the drug long term. They may switch you to a different weight-loss drug. Six weight-loss drugs have been approved by the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA for long-term use:.

Most prescription weight-loss drugs work by making you feel less hungry or fuller. Some do both. The exception is orlistat. It affects the way your body absorbs fat. Bupropion-naltrexone is a combination drug. Naltrexone is used to treat alcohol and opioid addiction.

Bupropion is a drug to treat depression, called an antidepressant, and a drug to help people stop smoking, called a quit-smoking aid. Like all antidepressants, bupropion carries a warning about suicide risk. Bupropion-naltrexone can raise blood pressure.

So your provider will need to check your blood pressure regularly at the start of treatment. Common side effects include nausea, headache and constipation. Liraglutide also is used to manage diabetes.

It's given as a daily shot. Nausea is a common complaint. Vomiting may limit its use. You also can get orlistat in a reduced-strength form without a prescription Alli.

Orlistat can cause side effects such as passing gas and having loose stools. You need to follow a low-fat diet when taking this medicine. In rare cases, people have had serious liver injury with orlistat.

But researchers haven't found that the drug causes liver injuries. Phentermine-topiramate is a combination of a weight-loss drug called phentermine and an anticonvulsant called topiramate.

Phentermine has the potential to be misused because it acts like a stimulant drug called an amphetamine. Other possible side effects include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, constipation, and nervousness.

Topiramate increases the risk of birth defects. Phentermine by itself Adipex-P, Lomaira also is used for weight loss. It's one of four similar weight-loss drugs approved for use for less than 12 weeks, called short-term use.

The other drugs in this group aren't often prescribed. Semaglutide also is used to help control type 2 diabetes. You take it as a weekly shot to manage obesity. The FDA has approved setmelanotide only for people age 6 and older who have obesity due to one of these rare inherited conditions:.

To take the drug, you'll need to have test results that show you have one of these conditions. Setmelanotide doesn't treat any of the gene problems that cause these conditions. But it can help you lose weight. It can lessen your appetite and make you feel fuller. And it may help you burn calories while your body is at rest.

Never give setmelanotide to a child under 6 years old. It can cause newborns and babies to have dangerous reactions. Weight-loss drugs aren't an easy answer to weight loss.

But they may help you make the lifestyle changes that you need to practice to lose weight and improve your health. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

Click here for an email preview. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you.

If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.

You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Appointments at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Request Appointment. Healthy Lifestyle Weight loss.