Research
Energy balance
Orlistat is an affordable option with lower effectiveness, making it a practical alternative in resource-limited settings.
Orlistat (120 mg three times daily) is an affordable option for weight loss, but it has lower effectiveness compared to newer drugs like Semaglutide, making it a practical choice primarily in resource-limited settings.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Orlistat and naltrexone‑bupropion were also considered affordable options, though with lower effectiveness.
Why this rating
Based on systematic review of economic evaluations.
Source
Economic Evaluation of Medications in Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: A Systematic Review
Somaye Afshari et al. · International Journal of Preventive Medicine · 2025
DOI 10.4103/ijpvm.ijpvm_368_24
systematic_review
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Semaglutide (2.4 mg) is the most cost-effective and clinically effective pharmacological intervention for obesity treatment compared to other FDA-approved medications and lifestyle interventions.Good
- Tirzepatide demonstrates high clinical efficacy but has a higher Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER), making its cost-effectiveness context-dependent.Good
- Phentermine-topiramate (Qysmia) offers acceptable cost-effectiveness, particularly in low-resource settings, making it a practical alternative to more expensive drugs.Good
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