{"id":47959,"date":"2022-01-14T09:30:41","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T14:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=47959"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:42:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T18:42:46","slug":"best-weight-loss-pills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-weight-loss-pills\/","title":{"rendered":"Could one of these 7 prescription weight-loss pills be right for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

About <\/span>40% of adult Americans<\/span><\/a> are obese (defined by having a body mass index over 30)\u2014and that number is expected to grow to 50% by 2030, according to a Harvard report. Because of the myriad health conditions that all those extra pounds can cause, many are wondering: Can losing weight be as simple as taking a pill?<\/span><\/p>\n

Prescription weight-loss pills aren\u2019t a magic bullet for obesity treatment. But when used in conjunction with a <\/span>healthy diet<\/span><\/a>, restricting calorie intake, and exercise, they can help many people on their weight loss journey. On average, after one year of use, people taking prescription weight-loss medication lose 3% to 12% more body weight than people who use diet and exercise alone, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This may not sound that impressive, but that difference can be enough to help reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe live in what we now call an obesogenic environment,\u201d says Juliana Simonetti, MD, co-director of the Comprehensive Weight Management Program at the University of Utah. \u201cPhysiologically speaking, we\u2019re built to hold on to calories so we can survive things like famine and war. We also eat many calorie-dense foods and have 24\/7 access to food. All these things promote weight gain. Weight-loss medications can help us overcome some of that physiology and control our appetites so we can lose weight.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what are the best weight-loss pills out there? Read on to find out.<\/span><\/p>\n

7 FDA-approved weight-loss pills<\/span><\/h2>\n

Prescription drugs for weight loss work in different ways. Some work by targeting areas of the brain that regulate appetite. By altering certain brain chemicals, these drugs act as an <\/span>appetite suppressant<\/span><\/a> and\/or increase feelings of fullness. Some drugs use a different pathway, helping to interfere with your body\u2019s absorption of fat. Because obesity can be a chronic health issue, many of these drugs are meant to be used long term, even after you reach your ideal weight\u2014assuming you\u2019re responding to the medication in the first place.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA common analogy is blood pressure medication,\u201d says <\/span>Aleem Kanji, MD<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity medicine specialist with Ethos Endocrinology in Houston, Texas. \u201cMost would expect high blood pressure to return if medication is discontinued. Obesity is the same. It is a chronic disease that requires chronic therapy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But not everyone is a candidate for weight-loss drugs. Use of prescription weight-loss medications is typically reserved for people who:<\/span><\/p>\n