Guidelines for eligibility include:

• Age >18
• BMI 27 with weight related comorbidities
• Or BMI ≥ 30 with no comorbidities needed
• No eating disorders
• No pancreatitis
• No untreated acute psychiatric disorders
• No alcohol or drug dependency
• Has tried other avenues without success
• Committed to a healthy lifestyle and lifelong care

Pharmacotherapy is often best used to maintain weight loss following intensive dietary therapy (e.g. VLED), placement of intragastric balloons or even after bariatric surgery, or to prevent or reduce weight regain.

Note: these are guidelines, and all patients require a discussion regarding Weight Loss Medications and other forms of weight loss treatment.

If you don’t know your BMI, you can calculate it here.

The currently approved weight loss medications have an average expected weight loss of around 5-10% total body weight.

For non-injectables, patients can expect an average weight loss of around 4–6% over 12 months, and over 5% after 12 months’ use [1].

For injectables, when used at recommended doses for obesity management in people without type 2 diabetes, mean weight losses in clinical trials vary depending on the medication prescribed, however average weight loss is approximately 10% of Total Body Weight Loss [2].

While data on long-term safety and effectiveness of medications for weight loss is limited, it is expected that treatment is required over the long term (as for any other chronic condition).

Nearly half of the people who take a GLP-1 weight management medication experience one or more GI side effects. Gastrointestinal symptoms — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation — are by far the most common.

For non-injectables, these may have an interaction with antidepressants or other mood stabilisers, and may require additional monitoring.

If side effects of weight loss medication occur, patients will often be advised to cease the treatment.

Your surgeon will discuss all risks and possible side effects with you.