Are Weight Loss Drugs for You?

Medications used to treat diabetes are the latest weapon in the fight against obesity. Beyond the hype, here's what Black women need to know.

Published October 20, 2023

Recently, a friend posted pictures on Facebook of her body transformation as she dropped a sizable amount of weight. While I had assumed she'd started a new exercise regimen, she confided that Ozempic was responsible for her success.

She was the first person I knew who had taken that buzzed-about drug to lose weight, but this wasn't the first time I was hearing about how certain drugs used to treat diabetes were proving to be effective at fighting obesity, as well. In addition to Ozempic, other drugs commonly touted include Trulicity and Rybelsus.

For Black women, obesity has proven to be particularly challenging. Approximately four out of five of us are either overweight or obese, giving us the highest rates of obesity in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

These drugs have exploded in popularity in recent months. Prescriptions for them increased by 300%, between 2020 and 2022, according to a study by Trilliant Health, even leading to drug shortages in some cases. They've even sparked a craze in Hollywood with gossip sites regularly speculating on who has taken – or come out against – the drugs.

Generally speaking, these medications work by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin in the body. That, in turn, reduces blood sugar, slows the emptying of food from the stomach and affects brain receptors causing a reduction in appetite. One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that people who used the drug tirzepatide – sold under the brand name Mounjaro – lost, on average, between 35 and 52 pounds over 72 weeks depending on the dosage of the medication that they took.

Using medications to treat obesity is not new, but medications have gotten better over the years, says Veronica R. Johnson, M.D., with Northwestern Medical Group in Chicago, who specializes in obesity medicine.

There are tools that are effective and safe that are here to help you.

Obesity is a chronic disease, Dr. Johnson says. For some people, making lifestyle changes such as eating differently and exercising more can lead to successful weight loss. However, others might need the help of medication just as someone might turn to a prescription to help them control their blood pressure.

Obesity is a chronic disease. For some people, lifestyle changes can lead to successful weight loss. However, others might need the help of medication just as someone might turn to a prescription to help them control their blood pressure.

For a doctor to prescribe one of these drugs to you for weight loss, you'd typically need a body mass index (BMI) of between 27 and 29.9 with a comorbidity such as diabetes or high blood pressure, Dr. Johnson says. You'd also likely qualify if you have a BMI over 30 even if you have no other health conditions. If you're wondering whether one of these drugs is for you, consider these tips.

Determine whether you can lose the weight through lifestyle changes. Some people may not need medication to lose weight and keep it off. Lifestyle changes such as eating differently or starting an exercise routine may be sufficient for someone and should be attempted first, Dr. Johnson says. However, "if they don't feel like the lifestyle is sustainable long-term, then it's time to reconsider other tools to get them to a healthier weight."

Some may also be better suited for bariatric surgery than simply using medication on its own. A doctor can help you decide what option is best for you.

Allow your doctor to be your ally. Some telehealth companies make it easy to get a prescription without a doctor's appointment. However, a doctor can better help you determine such important information as what dose of the medication you should take or if the medication might conflict with another medication or supplement you are taking.

Prepare yourself for an ongoing journey. Once your body gets used to the drugs, there is a chance your weight could plateau, research suggests. Also, while some people may be able to come off the medications and maintain their weight, it's not probable. "If you stop taking the medication, there's a high likelihood that your weight's going to go back up," Dr. Johnson says.

Work with your doctor to minimize side effects. "No medication goes without side effects," Dr. Johnson says. Some recent side effects in the news have been downright scary, such as a condition called gastroparesis, in which the movement of food from your stomach to your small intestine is either delayed or stopped. While gastroparesis, sometimes called stomach paralysis, is rare, Dr. Johnson says, you may experience symptoms such as nausea or constipation, but those can often be minimized if you eat and drink the right things. A doctor can help you figure out what foods to avoid, she adds.

Continue to focus on diet and exercise. As tempting as it may be to rely entirely on medication to maintain your desired weight, your body still needs good nutrition and physical activity on a routine basis for optimal health.

Ask your insurance provider if it’s covered. Some insurance providers won't cover these medications for obesity if you don't have diabetes too, says Dr. Johnson, and with the cost of some of these weight loss drugs exceeding $1,000 per month without insurance, they may be inaccessible to many of us.

Ignore judgements and naysaying. Some people who use the drugs feel unfairly judged by others because of the method they chose to lose weight. Even Oprah admitted recently that she once considered using weight loss drugs like Ozempic as taking "the easy way out." However, Dr. Johnson urges women to ignore such criticism. if you can't manage your weight on your own, it's okay, she says. "There are tools that are effective and safe that are here to help you."

Tamara E. Holmes is a Washington, DC-based writer whose work centers on the intersection between health, wealth and happiness.