person injecting weight loss medication

Weight Loss Medications

Weight Loss Medications

What is medical weight loss?

Medical weight loss is non-surgical treatment for weight loss that is supervised by a provider.

How do weight loss medications work?

Prescription medications to treat obesity work in various ways. For example, some medications may help you feel less hungry or full sooner. Other medications may make it harder for your body to absorb fat from the foods you eat.

Anti-obesity medications may target several biological pathways that can contribute to obesity, such as appetite, cravings, feeling full, food preferences and thoughts about food.

Weight loss medications aren’t for everyone with a high BMI. If you are overweight or have obesity you might be able to lose weight with lifestyle changes – changing behaviors, improving eating and physical activity habits, changing sleep habits, etc. Medications don’t replace physical activity or healthy eating habits as a way to lose weight. Studies show that weight management medications work best when combined with a healthful lifestyle program.

FDA-approved Medications for Weight Loss

  • Wegovy
  • Zepbound
  • Saxenda
  • Lomaira
  • Qsymia
  • Contrave
  • Phentermine

FDA-approved Medications for Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

  • Ozempic
  • Mounjaro
  • Metformin

Who might benefit from weight loss medications?

We use Body Mass Index (BMI) to help determine if weight loss medications are right for adults with:

  • A BMI of 30 or greater.
  • A BMI of 27 or greater with weight-related health problems.

Will insurance cover the cost of weight management medication?

Some, but not all insurance plans cover anti-obesity medications. Contact your insurance provider to find out if your plan covers these medications.

What can I expect with weight loss medications?

  • You will meet with one of our providers at the Owensboro Health Weight Management clinic. During the consultation, your past and current health, previous weight loss attempts and weight loss goals will be discussed.
  • We will calculate your BMI, measure waist circumference and calculate body fat percentage during the visit.
  • You and your provider will develop a plan to help meet your weight-management goals.
  • We ask that all medical weight loss patients schedule an appointment with our staff dietitian and monthly follow-ups in the clinic.

Weight loss drugs aren’t an easy answer to weight loss. But they may help you make the lifestyle changes that you need to practice to lose weight and improve your health.