Who Should Take Them - Weight Loss Medications: Obesity

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Who should take them?

One way to minimize the risks of these drugs is to prescribe them only for people who need them for health reasons: those who have obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension, or those at high risk for developing such disorders. Guidelines issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) advise that weight-loss drugs be given only to people with a BMI of 30 or more, or — in the case of those with weight-related health problems — a BMI of 27 or more. The use of diet drugs by people with lower BMIs is likely to pose more risks than benefits.

Be aware that weight-loss drugs aren't effective for everyone. Clinical guidelines suggest that if a person hasn't lost at least a pound a week in the first month on a weight-loss medication, she or he is unlikely to benefit from the drug. A drug that helps one person may be no better than a placebo for someone else. For example, people who overeat because of stress, bad habits, or emotional issues may benefit less from appetite suppressants than do people who overeat because of hunger. For them, psychotherapy or behavioral therapy may be a more appropriate first step.

Last updated:	June 20, 2007