Medical Weight-Loss Management | WeightWatchers US

Right now, six medications are approved by the FDA: bupropion-naltrexone (brand name: Contrave), semaglutide (brand name: Wegovy), liraglutide, (brand name: Saxenda), orlistat (brand names: Alli and Xenical), phentermine-topiramate (brand name: Qysmia), and phentermine.

Ozempic is the brand name for a form of the GLP-1 drug semaglutide; right now it’s only FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes. That said, some physicians do prescribe it off-label for weight management. A higher-dose version of semaglutide, under the brand name Wegovy, is FDA-approved to treat obesity.

We’ll leave medication recommendations to medical experts. You should consult with a healthcare provider—whether a general practitioner or a clinician from our telehealth partner Sequence—to determine which, if any, chronic weight-management medications may be right for you.

It depends on the medication and the type of insurance you have. Newer generation medications can be very expensive ($900-$1200 a month in the US for out-of-pocket costs), and insurance companies vary greatly on whether and how much they cover.

The FDA has approved these medications for individuals living with obesity—defined as a body mass index (BMI) over 30—and also individuals with a BMI over 27 who have a qualifying health condition, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.

The quickie answer: most suppress your appetite. They do this by targeting your brain and gut to manage hunger and signal feelings of fullness.

Weight loss varies across medications, ranging from 5% to 15%, with newer medications producing the more significant results.

The consensus of the medical community—including both researchers and healthcare providers—is that lifestyle factors like food, activity, sleep, and mindset form the foundation for any weight-loss treatment, including prescription medication and even surgery. For people whose biology makes losing weight more challenging, medications help level the playing field—but they can’t make you eat healthier or move more or shift your mindset. Thus, experts say that these medications should be used as an adjunct to a lifestyle modification program.

These medications are designed to treat a chronic disease—obesity—and you have to take them long-term, alongside a lifestyle modification program, to optimize weight loss and health.

All medications have side effects, and your healthcare provider should go over them if and when you discuss medication options. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation, with most patients experiencing mild to moderate symptoms that are relatively short-term. More serious side effects are also possible, but far less common.

It doesn’t. Your membership and your plan remain unchanged. Much like our Diabetes-Tailored Plan and our soon-to-be-launched clinical plan for those on anti-obesity medications, it’s simply a new offering that we’re in the process of developing to meet the needs of our members.

Sequence is a fast-growing digital health platform that WeightWatchers acquired. This acquisition will allow us to create an unparalleled clinical weight-management solution for members considering or already taking prescription medication, pairing our proven nutrition and behavioral program with ongoing, comprehensive access to clinical care.

If you’re considering Sequence, take the quiz here. If you are eligible for weight-loss medications and you subscribe to Sequence, your WeightWatchers Core membership will be complimentary for the duration of your Sequence subscription.

Sequence is available to anyone in the US over the age of 18, but you must meet certain criteria to join, including: a BMI over 30 or a BMI over 27 with a qualifying condition (such as high blood pressure), and commercial insurance. Additionally, anyone who is pregnant, breastfeeding, or has a family history of medullary thyroid cancer is not a candidate.