Hormonal
Anti-obesity medications (AOMs), particularly GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, produce significant weight loss (5-20%+) and should be continued long-term as disease-modifying agents rather than short-term aids.
If you have obesity or overweight with related health issues, talk to your doctor about long-term medication options like GLP-1 agonists. These are not quick fixes but chronic disease treatments. Expect to start with a low dose to minimize stomach issues and increase it slowly. You must combine this with lifestyle changes for the best results, and do not stop the medication once you reach your goal, as stopping often leads to regaining the weight.
The ADA recommends that anti-obesity medications (AOMs), when used, should be continued long-term to maintain weight loss and health benefits, explicitly warning against the weight regain and worsening of cardiometabolic markers that often follow discontinuation.
Why this rating
Based on landmark clinical trials (SELECT, SURMOUNT) cited, though the paper notes limitations in demographic representation.
Source
Addressing the challenge of obesity in primary care: a review of effective interventions and implementation strategies
M Khani et al. · Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome · 2025
DOI 10.1186/s13098-025-01925-z
More from this paper
- Multicomponent behavioral interventions, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI), produce 5-10% weight loss and are essential for addressing psychological barriers and sustaining lifestyle changes.Good
- Combining aerobic and resistance exercise yields the best results for weight loss maintenance and metabolic health, with resistance training independently lowering obesity risk.Good
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →