Weight-Loss Pills Can Help the Seriously Overweight

Weight-Loss Pills Can Help the Seriously Overweight
Weight-loss pills can be effective tools for patients whose weight jeopardizes their health. Learn why.
By Diane Stresing
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD
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Pop a pill and lose weight? It may sound great, but weight-loss pills aren’t magic bullets, and they’re not for everyone. Losing weight is more than a cosmetic concern for seriously overweight and obese people; it’s a medical necessity.
Prescription weight-loss medications are recommended for people who have a lot of weight to lose and who have medical conditions or risks tied to obesity such as:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Some forms of cancer
Weight-Loss Pills: Who Needs Them to Shed Pounds?
Weight-loss pills should be prescribed only for people who are seriously overweight or obese. For those who have weight-related medical complications or risks, such as hypertension or diabetes, prescription weight-loss medications are recommended for those with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or above. Weight-loss prescriptions may also be appropriate for people without a weight-related disease or medical complication if their BMI is 30 or higher.
Weight-Loss Pills: How They Work
Most weight-loss drugs work by convincing people that they feel full a lot sooner than they would without the drugs, says Karen Cooper, DO, a bariatric physician at the Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute in Ohio.