Staying Healthy
Questions and answers about the new anti-obesity medications
They're the most effective drugs for weight loss to date. But they're expensive, scarce, and not right for everyone.
- Reviewed by Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
A blockbuster batch of anti-obesity drugs continues to grab headlines and dominate social media posts, and not just because the new year revs up our resolve to shed pounds. The medications — semaglutide (Wegovy), liraglutide (Saxenda), and tirzepatide (Zepbound) — are backed by science and stunning accounts of people losing as much as 20% of their body weight.
While that's remarkable, it's not the whole story. Many questions about the drugs remain, and some answers are complicated.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
About the Reviewer
Anthony L. Komaroff, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Health Letter
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