Knowing which one will work for you is difficult with so many weight loss injections available. The answer doesn’t lie in the medications but with you and your health. It can be tempting to reach for what seems like an easy solution, but taking drugs that aren’t intended for you can have severe repercussions.

What Are Weight Loss Injections?

Weight loss injections are drugs designed to aid weight loss in an injectable form. Each drug works differently, but most weight loss drugs will either impact your metabolism or your appetite, which in turn can speed up weight loss. Due to the extreme rise in popularity, these drugs are in high demand, but they aren’t always the right approach for weight loss.

The FDA-approved drugs are intended to help patients manage obesity to reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other conditions that obesity can exacerbate.

Many public figures are celebrating these weight loss drugs as a quick fix to shed a few unwanted pounds, but the reality is that they are supposed to help people who have struggled to lose weight despite healthy eating and exercise.

Should You Use Weight Loss Injections?

Your doctor may prescribe weight loss injections if you have consistently struggled to maintain weight loss despite trying several diets and exercise routines. If your body mass index (BMI) exceeds 30, your doctor may be concerned about other health conditions. While BMI can be helpful, it is outdated and should only be used as a guideline.

If you and your doctor agree that losing weight would be the best course of action for your health, weight loss injections can be an excellent option to help you overcome the hurdles you have struggled with. Depending on their mechanism of function, certain drugs can speed up your metabolism or even slow down the rate at which food digests to help you feel fuller for longer.

What Are The Different Kinds of Weight Loss Injections?

At this point, there are countless weight loss drugs available, so it can be overwhelming to decide which is right for you. The most popular FDA-approved weight-loss medicines include Wegovy, Saxenda, Zepbound, and Xenical.

Different weight loss injections have diverse active ingredients, meaning they all function slightly differently, but the goal is effectively the same for all: weight loss. You may have heard the name Ozempic from celebrities or on TV, but that drug has only been FDA-approved for treating Type 2 Diabetes.

Doctors will sometimes prescribe it for weight loss, but this is known as an “off-label” use. Mounjaro is another drug that can be prescribed off-label for weight loss. The most common weight loss injections are made using the following active ingredients:

Liraglutide

Found in injections like Saxenda, Liraglutide works by helping you feel fuller faster, making you less likely to binge. When used with other healthy habits, trial patients have lost an average of 8% of their body weight in a year.

Semaglutide

Injections like Wegovy slow down digestion, which makes food stay in your stomach longer after eating. It extends the feeling of fullness to reduce appetite and minimize cravings, so you eat less and lose more weight.

Tirzepatide

Used for injections like Zepbound, Tirzepatide reduces appetite. This drug can help you lose weight when combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Six strengths are available, and the effectivity is dose-dependent. It is advisable to start on a low dose and build up to avoid side effects.

What Are the Risks Associated With Weight Loss Injections?

Some side effects have been deemed minor by the FDA that are common when taking weight loss drugs. These include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Headaches
• Heartburn
• Bloating

There are more severe complications that can occur when using weight loss injections. These are rare, but it is vital to know of them to get help immediately if you experience them. These include:

• Gallbladder disease
• Kidney disease
• Increased heart rate
• Pancreatitis
• Skin rashes
• Dehydration

Getting Weight Loss Injections

Weight loss injections cannot be bought over the counter. You will need a prescription from a doctor to purchase them from a pharmacy. It is vital to have a thorough consultation with your health practitioner to ensure that you can safely take weight loss drugs. During your appointment, tell your doctor which medications you take, what your allergies are, and what your heart health history is.

Blood thinners and diabetic medications can have dangerous interactions with some weight loss drugs, so it is essential to be honest about your health. If you have issues with your kidneys, pancreas, heart, thyroid, or liver, some weight loss drugs won’t suit you.

Before meeting with your doctor, it can be helpful to contact your insurance to determine if they cover any of the injections. If they do, there may be some prerequisites to the coverage, such as meeting a specific BMI or being diagnosed with specific illnesses. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you must not take any weight loss drug unless your GP and OBGYN have cleared it.

Weight loss injections can be an effective tool for those struggling with obesity and related health issues, but they are not a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all solution. The best injection for you depends on several factors, including your medical history and weight loss goals. Intended for those with significant weight-loss issues, they have become the latest trend.

It’s crucial to remember that these injections should only complement a healthy lifestyle, not replace it. Speak to your doctor and decide on the best course of action together that prioritizes your long-term health and preventing serious illness. Sustainable weight loss requires commitment, and weight loss injections may just be one piece of the puzzle.