Calorie-managed diets and exercise have been the mainstay approach of commercial weight loss programs for decades. But as weight loss medications like Ozempic®, Wegovy® and others become household names, people trying to lose weight are exploring adding medications to their weight loss toolkit.

Are Weight Loss Medications Effective?

"Obesity is a condition that affects more than 40% of our adult population and when factoring in candidacy for medications, such as those with overweight and a weight-related condition, the numbers get even higher," says Anthony Jay Millard, M.D., a board-certified obesity medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. He notes the need for an "all-hands-on-deck approach" with providers across the healthcare spectrum.

Many providers are familiar with the latest