If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

Prescription weight loss medicines can help people with obesity lose weight. They are usually prescribed by a doctor when diet and exercise alone are not working. Each of these medicines works differently. People who use these medicines may not feel as hungry. Or they may feel full after eating only a small amount of food. Another type of weight-loss medicine makes it harder for your body to absorb fat. Prescription weight loss drugs can be helpful when used in combination with a low-calorie diet and regular physical activity.

Who uses prescription weight loss medicines?

Prescription weight-loss medicines are only for people have obesity. Most of these medicines are designed for people who weigh 20% or more above what is ideal for their height and body type. Or they are used with people who have a high body mass index (BMI). The BMI is a measure of your weight and height. Your healthcare provider may prescribe you medicine to treat your obesity if you have:

• A BMI of 30 or greater.
• A BMI of 27 or more and you have a disease or condition that may be related to your weight
• Have struggled with non-medicine treatments alone
• Need help to manage cravings, hunger, and metabolic factors.

Your healthcare provider can tell you if prescription weight-loss medicines might be helpful for you.

Path to improved health

In Canada, there are 4 prescription medications used for long term obesity management.  For more information on these, please visit Obesity Canada at https://obesitycanada.ca/understanding-obesity/management/

Some weight-loss supplements containing ephedra, ephedrine, or caffeine are available without a prescription (over the counter). It is not known whether these medicines are safe. Such supplements have been linked to reports of heart attack, seizure, stroke, and death. It is important to talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking or are considering taking an over-the-counter weight-loss supplement.

Things to consider

How can I avoid gaining weight back when I stop using the medicine?

There is no easy cure for being overweight. Prescription weight-loss medicines can help you get off to a good start, but once you stop taking them, the weight you lost may come back. To keep the weight off, you must eat a healthy diet and be physically active on a regular basis. You must continue these healthy habits even after you stop taking the medicine. Remember that losing weight and keeping it off is a lifelong effort.

How can I lose weight without taking a weight-loss medicine?

If you decide weight-loss medicines aren’t right for you, you can still meet your weight-loss goals. It’s important to develop healthy eating habits, but don’t expect to change everything overnight. Start by training yourself to eat without doing anything else at the same time. For example, don’t eat while you watch TV. Focus on what you’re eating. Try to eat slowly.

Next, change what and how much you eat. Your healthcare provider can help you create a low-calorie diet plan that will help you lose weight.

It is also important to be physically active. A good goal for many people is to work up to exercising for at 150 minutes per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more. Regular exercise helps you burn calories faster, even when you are sitting still. Exercise also helps you burn fat and build muscle.

Aerobic exercise raises your heart rate and helps you burn calories. Aerobic exercises include swimming, brisk walking, jogging and bicycling. Anaerobic exercise, such as weight training, is also good because it adds muscle mass to your body. Muscle burns calories faster than fat.

Be sure to contact your healthcare provider before you begin an exercise program. They can help you create an exercise plan that will help you meet your goals.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Obesity Canada

https://obesitycanada.ca/