Staying Healthy
Understanding new weight-loss drugs
A class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists can help with weight loss in people who live with obesity or type 2 diabetes. But are they suitable for other people?
- Reviewed by Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
Some people who struggle with weight loss have been able to find assistance from several FDA-approved weight-loss medications, such as bupropion plus naltrexone (Contrave), phentermine (Adipex-P), phentermine plus topiramate (Qsymia), and orlistat (Xenical, Alli). On average, such drugs can help people lose 5% to 7% of their body weight when paired with a healthy diet and exercise.
Now a newer class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes has gained attention because of their impressive weight-loss results — in many cases, 10% to 20% of a person's body weight. They're called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
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About the Author
Matthew Solan, Executive Editor, Harvard Men's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Howard E. LeWine, MD, Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing
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