AKTWISTED WELLNESS PRESENTS: NAVIGATING APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS: FACT VS. FICTION

A combination of diet, exercise, and other healthy lifestyle choices is typically touted as the best way to lose weight and keep it off. But, when you’ve tried again and again to lose weight “naturally,” it’s easy to get discouraged and consider adding something new to your regimen. With a huge range of prescription and non-prescription appetite suppressants available, you may be wondering if they’re the secret to helping you shed stubborn pounds and get your weight back on track. Keep reading to learn about appetite suppressants, how they work, and whether they’re a good choice for you.

PRESCRIPTION APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several prescription medications designed to suppress your appetite. Some are approved for long-term use, while others are meant to be taken for a short time, usually less than 12 weeks.

Short-term appetite suppressants authorized by the FDA include:

Phentermine (Adipex P, Lomaira)
Benzphetamine (Didrex, Regimex)
Phendimetrazine (Bontril PDM)
Diethylpropion
Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave)

Long-term options for weight loss include:

Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound)

Other weight loss medications like Orlistat (Xenical and Alli) work by preventing fat absorption in your digestive system rather than by suppressing your appetite.

DO APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS WORK?

For a long time, research has shown that weight loss drugs can help you shed pounds, but in some cases, the weight loss is modest. A review of five appetite suppressants found that participants who were overweight or obese lost an average of 5% of their body weight over one year on medication. Because most of those treatments were not intended for long-term use, significant and drastic lifestyle changes were always crucial to keep the weight off long-term.

That was until GLP-1 medications like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) showed up. These medications have shown an average of 20% weight loss over the first year of use, making them a game changer for patients with overweight or obesity.

WHO MIGHT BENEFIT FROM AN APPETITE SUPPRESSANT?

Weight loss medications are usually prescribed to people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30. While BMI is classically used by healthcare providers and researchers to estimate your body fat percentage, the calculation isn’t always accurate. BMI has been criticized for failing to take body fat distribution, gender, or ethnicity into account. Your healthcare provider will decide if these treatments are right for you.

You may receive a prescription for one of these treatments if you have a condition that is associated with excess body weight, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or obstructive sleep apnea.

WHO SHOULD AVOID APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS?

If you take certain medications, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, appetite suppressants may cause a dangerous interaction. They can also worsen certain health conditions–You should inform your healthcare provider if you have:

Glaucoma
Heart disease
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Liver disease

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take appetite suppressants.

RISKS OF APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS

Side effects of appetite suppressants vary depending on the medication. Common side effects may include:

Increased blood pressure
Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Headache
Nervousness
Nausea
Constipation
Dry mouth
Depression
Weight loss

NATURAL APPETITE SUPPRESSANTS

Some dietary supplements claim to suppress your appetite naturally––without medication. While more research is needed, these supplements may help you lose weight:

Green tea extract
Garcinia cambogia
Glucomannan
Capsaicin
Yerba mate
Dietary fiber

Keep in mind that the FDA has not given the green light to any over-the-counter weight loss or appetite suppressant supplements. More research is needed to understand the safety and efficacy of weight loss supplements.

CONCLUSION

If you’re trying to lose weight, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can help you develop a treatment plan to safely reach your healthy goals.

DISCLAIMER

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

SOURCES:

Aronne, L. J., Wadden, T. A., Peterson, C., Winslow, D., Odeh, S., Gadde, K. M., . . . & Fain, R. (2013). Evaluation of phentermine and topiramate versus phentermine/topiramate extended-release in obese adults. Obesity, 21(11), 2163-2171.
FDA. (2021). Highlights of prescribing information: Saxenda (liraglutide) injection, for subcutaneous use. Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/206321s009lbl.pdf
Greenway, F. L., Aronne, L. J., Raben, A., Astrup, A., & Rössner, S. (2010). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of tesofensine in obese subjects. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 12(11), 972-981.
Pi-Sunyer, X., Astrup, A., Fujioka, K., Greenway, F., Halpern, A., Krempf, M., . . . & Jensen, C. (2015). A randomized, controlled trial of 3.0 mg of liraglutide in weight management. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(1), 11-22.
Yanovski, S. Z., & Yanovski, J. A. (2014). Long-term drug treatment for obesity: a systematic and clinical review. Jama, 311(1), 74-86.