My Bariatric Solutions has published its latest article which covers weight loss medications, who they are appropriate for, and how to get the greatest benefit from the medications.
Are weight loss medications appropriate for everyone? The short answer is no. There are a number of things that you need to consider before starting a weight loss medication. These include your past and current medical history, family history, likely health benefits of weight loss, medication side effects/interactions, and medication cost.
The entire article can be read at https://mybariatricsolutions.com/when-are-weight-loss-medications-appropriate/
Typically diet medications are aimed at individuals with a BMI of at least 30 or a BMI as low as 27 with weight related medical issues, and generally work best for individuals needing to lose 50 lbs or less. While those looking for a loss greater than 50 lbs may lose weight using diet medications, it is less realistic they will be able to lose to a healthy BMI of 25 or lower.
Medications combined with lifestyle and exercise changes generally result in a loss between 3-10% of starting body weight. However, results vary dependent on the individual and the medication. Post bariatric surgery patients that regain weight may also find diet medications helpful for getting back on track. However, medications are not recommended for patients who are less than 1 year post bariatric surgery (excluding gastric balloon patients that may start medications when balloon is removed at 6 month).
Most diet medications are taken on a daily basis (with some exceptions) and are intended for short term use; however, time may be extended dependent on your success. Additionally, some diet medications can be quite expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Current prescription medications must be considered as some diet medications can adversely interact with other prescription medications.
Finally, diet medications aren’t magic and don’t work alone. Changes in eating and exercise habits are necessary for you to have and sustain successful weight loss. The goal is to change unhealthy eating and exercise habits to healthy ones while on the medication, and to maintain those changes once the medication is discontinued.
Also, it is not unusual to regain some of the weight after discontinuing the medication. Best success comes with continued healthy eating habits and regular exercise. It is recommended you do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobics along with 2 days of muscle strengthening. That means to maintain your weight loss after discontinuing diet medications you may need to do more than 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly.
Not everyone is a good candidate for diet medications. As always, never take a prescription diet medication that wasn’t prescribed specifically for you.
To learn more about weight loss medications and weight loss in general, Contact My Bariatric Solutions at 888-686-6971 or visit the link above.
