Research
Hormonal
Newer FDA-approved pharmacological interventions (Lorcaserin, Phentermine-Topiramate ER) produce greater weight loss than older medications but remain less effective than bariatric surgery and carry risks of central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse effects.
Newer weight loss drugs like Lorcaserin and Qsymia work better than older options but still produce less weight loss than surgery. They carry risks of side effects like nausea or mood changes, so they require medical supervision. They are an option if surgery is not desired or possible.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
New pharmacological approaches, recently approved by the FDA, decrease appetite and result in weight loss: Lorcaserin (Belviq)... resulting in an average 5.8% weight loss... A second, FDA approved phentermine-topiramate ER (Qsymia) that produces mean 8–10% weight loss... This degree of weight loss is lower than that observed with bariatric surgery.
Why this rating
Based on randomized controlled trials cited in the review.
Source
Recent advances in clinical practice challenges and opportunities in the management of obesity
Andrés Acosta et al. · Gut · 2014
DOI 10.1136/gutjnl-2013-306235
narrative_reviewCited 92×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Bariatric surgery (specifically Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) is the only current obesity treatment effective for long-term weight loss and resolution of comorbidities, whereas non-surgical lifestyle and pharmacological interventions typically produce modest, poorly sustained weight loss.Strong
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) induces weight loss and metabolic improvements through complex neurohormonal mechanisms (incretins, vagal signaling, microbiome shifts) rather than solely through mechanical restriction or malabsorption.Good
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