Anti-Obesity Medications

Anti-obesity medications, also called weight-loss medications, are prescription drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat obesity. They can be used alongside lifestyle changes to support obesity treatment.

Weight Center: Healthy lifestyles, woman walking in open park

How anti-obesity medications work

There are several types that work in different ways to promote weight loss. Anti-obesity medications work by:

  • Changing how your body absorbs fat
  • Promoting feelings of fullness
  • Reducing appetite

Some weight-loss medications are also used to treat other conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes.

Types of anti-obesity medications

Types of anti-obesity medications include:

  • GLP-1 receptor agonists work by regulating appetite and blood sugar. Options include:
    • Semaglutide (Wegovy)
    • Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)
    • Liraglutide (Saxenda)
  • Lipase inhibitors, including orlistat (Xenical, Alli), work by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from food.
  • Opioid antagonist combination medications, including naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave), work by reducing appetite and cravings.
  • Stimulants, including phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), reduce appetite and increase metabolism.
Weight Center: Healthy lifestyles, man and woman jogging in a wooded park

Before you begin treatment with anti-obesity medications

  • Check your insurance coverage
  • Understand your medication treatment options
  • Things to consider

Not all health or prescription insurance plans cover anti-obesity medications. For some medications, you must be diagnosed with another health condition to qualify for insurance coverage. You will need to contact your insurance company to determine if you are eligible for coverage.

Check your insurance coverage

Here are the steps you may take to check your insurance coverage for anti-obesity medications:

  • Discuss with your health coach: During your first appointment, you should let your health coach know if you are interested in treatment with anti-obesity medications. Your health coach will ask you a few screening questions to find out if you may be eligible for insurance coverage.
  • Contact your insurance company: You should contact your health or prescription insurance company to find out if anti-obesity medications are covered.
  • When you call your insurance company, you should:
    • Speak with the Prior Authorization department
    • Ask specific questions such as:
      • Is the medication covered to treat obesity and weight loss?
      • What is the cost per month for me on these drugs?
      • What tier level is it? (Tier 1 is typically a lower cost than Tier 3.)

Understand your medication treatment options

For many patients, their ability to access treatment depends on insurance coverage. After you contact your insurance company, you should meet with your weight management provider. At this meeting, you should discuss what you learned and whether anti-obesity medications are right for you. Options may include:

  • No insurance coverage for anti-obesity medications: You may choose to pay out of pocket or discuss other medication options with your weight management physician.
  • Anti-obesity medications are approved but expensive: You can download a discount card from the drug manufacturer, if available. Our medical assistant team will file a tier exemption with your insurance company. If this is denied, no appeal will be filed.
  • Anti-obesity medications are excluded: If your insurance company does not cover anti-obesity medications, you will need to pay out of pocket or discuss other medication options with your weight management physician.
  • Anti-obesity medications are denied: You can start the reconsideration and appeal process with your insurance company if you have another documented health condition, such as:
    • A prior stroke or heart attack
    • Peripheral arterial disease
    • Sleep apnea
    • Type 2 diabetes

Things to consider

Before you begin treatment with anti-obesity medication, you should discuss the pros and cons of starting these medications with your weight management physician. You may:

  • Need to be on this medication permanently. Stopping the drug may cause you to return to your starting weight.
  • Need to purchase other supplies. Needles or other supplies are available at an additional cost.
  • Need to use a specific pharmacy. Certain medications may only be available from specific pharmacies through your insurance or at a discounted rate.
  • Require a higher dose. If you don’t respond to the initial prescribed dose, you may require a higher dose at an additional cost. 

We are committed to giving you the information you need to contact your insurance company. However, it is your responsibility to work with your insurance company to coordinate your weight-loss drug coverage. 

Starting anti-obesity medications

Our team starts and stabilizes medications. We know these medications can: 

  • Take 6 months to increase to an optimal level
  • Be better tolerated, and have fewer side effects if supported with nutrition, health coaching, and health psychology

Once you begin medication, we monitor for treatment complications. These complications can include:

  • Bone loss
  • Disordered eating
  • Muscle mass loss
  • Nutritional deficiencies

We work through treatment side effects. We also discuss what a healthy weight can look like, what to expect when obesity is in remission and how to practice body neutrality. This helps you focus on your body’s function and abilities instead of just your appearance.

As our patient, you need individualized treatment. You may also need different supports, which may change over time. You may have different responses to treatment. We can adjust your treatment if needed.