Top obesity specialist Spencer Nadolsky, D.O., doesn’t hide the fact he uses appetite suppressants to help his patients drop pounds. He cautions, though, if you’re looking to just shave off a few pounds, these meds aren’t for you. They’re only recommended for people whose body mass indexes put them firmly in the “overweight” or “obese” categories.
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If that is you, and you’re interested in prescription medications for weight loss, the Food and Drug Administration has approved four in the last three years: Qsymia, Belviq, Contrave, and Saxenda.
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Simply put, the drugs work by affecting receptors in your brain to dull your appetite. But according to Nadolsky, you still have to eat right and exercise to lose weight on them. They just prevent you from feeling starving and miserable while you cut back, which makes the effort more sustainable, he says.
While the drugs helped most people lose about 5% of their body weight or more during clinical trials, Nadolsky said he’s seen more dramatic results in his practice, with some patients dropping up to 100 pounds.
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As with any medication, each of these four are associated with possible side effects. Additionally, you may have to stay on the drugs forever: Most people who stop taking them regain the weight they lost, said Nadolsky.
If you think you may be a candidate, talk to your doctor.
Curated article from Men’s Health
