The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some medications for weight loss. If a medication is FDA-approved, it means the FDA has determined it’s safe and effective for a certain use.
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Key Takeaways:
FDA-approved weight loss medications include injections (Wegovy®, Zepbound®, etc.) and pills, like Qsymia® and Xenical®.
Most weight loss drugs are FDA-approved for people with obesity or overweight with a weight-related health condition.
A healthcare provider can help you find the best weight loss medication for you.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some medications for weight loss. If a medication is FDA-approved, it means the FDA has determined it’s safe and effective for a certain use.
FDA-approved weight loss drugs are usually approved for people with obesity or overweight with a weight-related health condition.
Here are some of your options.
Drug | Injection or pill | FDA-approved for |
|---|---|---|
Ozempic® | Weekly injection | Type 2 diabetes |
Wegovy® | Weekly injection | Weight loss |
Zepbound® | Weekly injection | Weight loss |
Saxenda® | Daily injection | Weight loss |
Metformin | Daily pill | Type 2 diabetes |
Wegovy® contains the active ingredient semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. The once-weekly injection works by:
Suppressing appetite
Reducing food cravings
Making you feel fuller
These changes can help you eat more whole foods and minimize overeating, promoting weight loss.
Wegovy® is FDA-approved for weight loss and long-term weight management in people with obesity or overweight with a weight-related condition, like:
Type 2 diabetes
Sleep apnea
High cholesterol (dyslipidemia)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Wegovy® — like many FDA-approved weight loss drugs — is prescribed alongside eating more nutritious foods and doing more physical activity to promote weight loss. It’s also designed with long-term use in mind, so you may be able to take the medication to maintain a healthy body weight in the long run.
Effectiveness: Research shows that taking Wegovy® and making lifestyle changes for 68 weeks leads to an average weight loss of almost 15 percent.
Side effects:
Common side effects of Wegovy® include:
Vomiting
Constipation
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
How to use: Once-weekly injection.
Zepbound® contains the active ingredient tirzepatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist.
It’s FDA-approved for weight loss and chronic weight management in people with obesity or overweight who have a weight-related health condition. The medication works by suppressing your appetite and making you feel fuller.
It might be more effective than semaglutide. One study found that people taking semaglutide for 72 weeks lost an average of almost 14 percent of their body weight. People taking tirzepatide for 72 weeks lost an average of about 20 percent.
Effectiveness: People taking 15 milligrams (mg) of Zepbound® and making lifestyle changes lost an average of almost 21 percent of their body weight over 72 weeks.
Side effects:
Zepbound® side effects include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Abdominal pain
How to use: Once-weekly injection.
Saxenda® contains the active ingredient liraglutide, another GLP-1. Again, it works by reducing your appetite and making you feel fuller, helping you eat more whole foods and the right portion sizes.
It’s FDA-approved for weight reduction in people 12 and older with a body weight greater than 60 kilograms (about 132 pounds) and obesity, or adults with overweight and a weight-related condition.
Liraglutide might not be as effective as semaglutide or tirzepatide. One review of studies found that 2.4 mg of semaglutide led to about 27.5 pounds of weight loss compared to 3 mg of liraglutide, which led to roughly 11.5 pounds of weight loss.
Effectiveness:
One study found that taking Saxenda® for a year led to losing about 15 pounds more than a placebo group. Saxenda® was even more effective when combined with exercise. Participants who exercised and took Saxenda® lost about 6 additional pounds.
Side effects:
Saxenda® side effects include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation
Diarrhea
How to use: Daily injection.
→ Compare the two: Saxenda® vs. Wegovy®
Qsymia is a pill FDA-approved for weight loss in people with obesity or overweight who have a weight-related health condition.
It contains two medications: topiramate and phentermine. When combined, these medications work to reduce appetite and increase fullness.
Effectiveness:
One study found that people taking Qsymia and making lifestyle changes for 28 weeks lost about 20 pounds.
Side effects:
Qsymia side effects include:
Dizziness
Insomnia
Constipation
Dry mouth
Tingling
How to use: Daily pill taken in the morning.
Xenical contains the active ingredient orlistat, a lipase inhibitor. It works by reducing how much fat your body absorbs from foods.
The medication is FDA-approved for weight loss and weight maintenance in people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition. It’s also FDA-approved to help prevent weight regain after prior weight loss.
Effectiveness:
Clinical trials show that people taking Xenical for a year lost an average of about 13 pounds.
Side effects:
Xenical side effects include:
Fatty or oily stools
Gas with discharge
Increased bowel movements
Needing to poop urgently
How to use: Take three times a day with a meal containing fat or up to one hour after the meal.
→ Find out your BMI: The Hims BMI Calculator
Alli also contains orlistat, but it’s available over the counter (OTC) in a lower dose than Xenical.
It’s FDA-approved for weight loss in adults when used alongside eating a reduced-calorie, low-fat diet.
Effectiveness:
Alli’s prescribing information states that for every 5 pounds you lose from diet alone, Alli can help you lose an extra 2 to 3 pounds. Most people lose 5 to 10 pounds over 6 months on Alli.
Side effects:
Side effects of Alli include:
Gas with oily spotting
Loose stools
More frequent bowel movements that are hard to control
How to use: Take three times a day with each main meal containing fat.
Adipex-P contains the active ingredient phentermine, which works by suppressing your appetite.
This medication is FDA-approved for people with a BMI of 30 or more or 27 or more with a weight-related condition. It’s used as a short-term weight loss treatment because there’s a risk of dependency.
A healthcare provider might prescribe it for 3 to 6 weeks, depending on how your body responds to the medication.
Effectiveness:
People taking 15 mg of phentermine lost about 13 pounds over 28 weeks.
Adipex-P tablets and capsules contain 37.5 mg of phentermine.
Side effects:
Side effects of Adipex-P include:
Restlessness
Dizziness
Insomnia
Dry mouth
Diarrhea
Constipation
High blood pressure in the lungs (primary pulmonary hypertension)
How to use: Daily pill taken before breakfast or 1 to 2 hours after breakfast. In some cases, a healthcare provider might prescribe half a tablet twice a day.
Imcivree contains the active ingredient setmelanotide. It’s a melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonist, meaning it acts on melanocortin-4 receptors in your brain, which are involved in regulating hunger and fullness.
This medication is for people with obesity caused by genetic disorders. It’s FDA-approved for weight loss and weight maintenance in adults and kids ages 2 and above with obesity due to:
Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS)
Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) deficiency
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1) deficiency
Leptin receptor (LepR) deficiency
Effectiveness:
One clinical trial found that people with Bardet-Biedl syndrome taking Imcivree for 52 weeks lost an average of about 8 percent of their starting BMI.
Side effects:
Imcivree side effects include:
Nausea
Headache
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Depression
Spontaneous erections
Injection site reactions
How to use: Daily injection.
If you’re looking for FDA-approved weight loss drugs, you’re not short on options.
Here’s a final rundown of what you need to know:
There are FDA-approved weight loss injections. Those include Wegovy®, Zepbound®, and Saxenda®.
There are FDA-approved weight loss pills. These include Qsymia, Xenical, Alli, Adipex-P, and Imcivree.
The best weight loss medication for you depends on many factors. Your weight, goals, current health problems, and personal preference for injectable medications vs. pills all come into play when determining the best obesity treatment.
A healthcare provider can help you find the best FDA-approved weight loss drug for you.
In some cases, your provider may recommend a medication FDA-approved for another condition, like diabetes, but prescribed off-label for weight loss — such as Ozempic® and Mounjaro®. But there are plenty of FDA-approved weight loss drugs if you’d prefer to stick to those.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about weight loss drugs FDA-approved for obesity and overweight.
The best over-the-counter weight loss pill that’s FDA-approved is Alli — in fact, it’s the only one. Alli works by reducing the amount of fat your body absorbs from foods. A pharmacist can make sure it’s right for you.
The criteria for weight loss drugs vary from medication to medication. For the most part, you need to have obesity or overweight with a weight-related condition — like high blood pressure or high cholesterol — to qualify for a weight loss drug.
FDA-approved weight loss drugs aren’t always covered by insurance. Many insurance providers don’t offer coverage for weight loss drugs. If they do, you’ll likely need a BMI above a specific number or a medical condition to get coverage.
→ Learn more: Are Weight Loss Drugs Covered by Insurance?
Weight loss drugs that are FDA-approved include:
Wegovy®
Zepbound®
Saxenda®
Qsymia
Xenical
Alli
Adipex-P
Imcivree
→ Read next: Diabetes Medications for Weight Loss
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards.
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