Prescription Weight Loss Drugs: When Is It Time to Ask Your Doctor?

Weight loss medications are becoming wildly popular. Many health conditions make it challenging to lose weight. Whether you’re battling obesity, hormonal issues, or insulin challenges, you may find it difficult to lose weight despite eating healthy and exercising.

Certain medications can also make weight loss challenging, especially if the side effects are weight gain. You may be taking an SSRI for mental health, which contributes to your difficulty losing weight. As simple as people like to make it seem, weight loss is not an exact science for everyone.

You may even be someone who struggles with food addiction or an eating disorder. Psychological effects like emotional eating can also result in weight gain. Any of these circumstances are reasons to talk to your doctor about weight loss drugs. For more information on when it’s time to talk to your doctor about your weight loss medication options, read on.

You’re Eating At A Caloric Deficit But Are Not Losing Weight.

The science behind weight loss is to calories in, calories out. When this is done in a healthy way, most individuals can expect to lose between 1-2 pounds per week. You may experience fluctuations here and there, but overall, the process should be reliable if you’re tracking your calories. If you are following this system and are not seeing progress, you may want to talk to your doctor about options, including whether prescription weight loss drugs may be right for you.

You Might Need Weight Loss Drugs To Battle Obesity.

If you’re severely overweight or obese, it may be important to talk to your doctor about weight loss drugs. Sometimes, medical intervention is necessary to protect your health. Obesity places individuals at a greater risk for many diseases and poor health outcomes, making talking to your doctor about weight loss drugs a critical consideration. Obesity can make it harder to exercise, which is another reason why weight loss drugs may be a needed intervention.

You Have Trouble With Emotional Eating.

Sometimes, weight gain is the result of psychological factors. Emotional eating is a coping mechanism that many people use to deal with stress, trauma, and other unwanted circumstances. While it is fine to enjoy comfort food now and then, if you find that you have difficulty controlling yourself around food, or rely on food as a source of security or comfort, you may want to see a professional to discuss emotional eating. If you are dealing with emotional eating and it has led to weight gain, you might consider talking to your doctor about weight loss drugs.

Talk To Your Doctor To See If You’re A Candidate.

Many weight loss drugs inhibit the way people respond to food cues by reducing appetite. For individuals who find it difficult to lose weight through typical means, it may be helpful to talk to your doctor about weight loss medications. Every case is different, so it is best to listen to your doctor about their recommendations and whether you’re a candidate for weight loss medications.