For effective weight loss it is very important to soberly assess your capabilities and be patient — this helps
to achieve a long-term result rather than a momentary one. Weight loss medications can be a good support on
this journey. But only if they are chosen correctly. Of course, there is no magic pill or injection that would
get rid of excess kilograms once and for all. Therefore, you first need to work out a basic action plan — how
much time you are willing to devote to physical activity, how and how much you are willing to adjust your diet,
and then decide which weight loss product can complement it for a more pronounced effect.
Below are the most common weight loss medications, their advantages and disadvantages, their potential in terms
of effectiveness, as well as important parameters to pay attention to when choosing.
Category: Tirzepatide, Semaglutide, Liraglutide, etc.
Mechanism of action: Semaglutide and a number of other active substances created to stimulate
receptors to human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) launch a cascade of processes in the body that stimulate
weight loss: they prolong the feeling of satiety, slow down the evacuation of food from the stomach and reduce
appetite. The most modern medication in this group is Tirzepatide, which also acts on
glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), accelerates the metabolism of fat cells and acts more
specifically on adipose tissue. Liraglutide is an older representative of the group, as it requires daily
administration, unlike Semaglutide and Tirzepatide (once-weekly regimen).
Trade names: Ozempic, Semavic, Semavic Next, Mounjaro, Sejaro, Saxenda, etc.
Expected result: Although all active substances in this category have a similar principle of
action, injectable Semaglutide and Tirzepatide have the strongest evidence base for effectiveness in weight loss,
used in type 2 diabetes and in obesity and overweight. According to studies, a course of injectable Semaglutide
contributes to weight loss through fat mass of 10-15%, and Tirzepatide — 20-25%.
Advantages: Semaglutide and Tirzepatide promote weight loss, do not cause addiction, and have a
protective effect on the cardiovascular system. Both medications require a once-weekly injection, and since they
are available in the form of a pen, it can be done independently.
Disadvantages: Side effects may occur, including nausea and diarrhea.
What to pay attention to:
1
Original medications based on injectable Semaglutide (Ozempic) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are currently not
officially available in many markets; buying them through intermediaries risks getting a counterfeit or an
ineffective medication due to transport and storage conditions not being observed.
2
When choosing analogs of the original medication, it is important to focus not only on the active substance,
but also on parameters of the pen such as convenient dose adjustment and ease of use.
3
All medications in this group are prescription-only, so the decision to use them should be made together with
a doctor.
Category: Orlistat
Mechanism of action: The medication blocks the activity of enzymes responsible for breaking down
fats in food from large molecules into smaller ones that can be absorbed through the intestinal wall. As a
result, the body is unable to fully absorb about 30% of the fats consumed.
Trade names: Orlistat, Xenical, Listata, Orsoten, Alli, Orlimas, etc.
Potential effect: Taking Orlistat together with a low-calorie diet contributes to additional
weight loss of 2-5 kg per year.
Advantages: No systemic effect on the body — orlistat acts locally in the intestine and is not
absorbed into the blood.
Disadvantages: Reduces the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, K and E.
What to pay attention to:
1
Common consequences of using Orlistat-based medications — increased flatulence, more frequent stools up to
leakage — combine poorly with intense physical activity.
2
To achieve a pronounced effect, Orlistat-based medications must be combined with a low-calorie diet. It is
necessary to reduce the consumption of fatty foods, since, firstly, Orlistat blocks the absorption of only 30%
of fats, and secondly, fatty food will provoke an aggravation of the medication's side effects. If the main
cause of the high calorie content of the diet was carbohydrates, then taking Orlistat will not give a
pronounced effect without adjusting their share in the diet.
Category: Sibutramine
Mechanism of action: Sibutramine affects the transmission of nerve impulses; it prolongs the
action of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, due to which the onset of satiety is accelerated, the period
without hunger is prolonged, mood improves, intestinal function slows down, and motivation for physical activity
increases.
Trade names: Reduxine, Goldline, Lindaxa, Meridia, Slimia, etc.
Expected result: According to the official websites of Sibutramine-based medications, they
promote weight loss of 15 kg within six months. International studies confirm the effectiveness of Sibutramine,
however in a number of countries the question arises whether the risks of using Sibutramine exceed its benefit.
In the USA, EU, India and China, medications of this series are banned until additional data on the safety of
the medication appear.
Advantages: Sibutramine reduces appetite, increases energy expenditure and stimulates physical
activity, which creates favorable conditions for weight loss.
Disadvantages: A number of serious health risks have been identified with the use of
Sibutramine, including negative effects on the heart and blood vessels, decreased intestinal activity,
addiction, and sleep problems.
What to pay attention to:
1
Sibutramine is approved for use in some countries, but it is a prescription medication with a number of not
fully studied side effects, so its use must be agreed with a doctor.
2
The use of Sibutramine must be strictly limited to a period of 12 months, otherwise the risk of developing
side effects increases.
Category: Fat burners
Mechanism of action: The term "fat burners" refers to a broad group of dietary supplements based
on a wide variety of substances. In its original sense, fat burners are substances that promote increased
thermogenesis (energy production by the body) or affect fat metabolism. In both cases, the product helps the
body release more "proper" energy for activity. However, the term fat burners can also refer to more serious
medications with effects such as appetite suppression, inhibition of fat breakdown in the intestine, and even
medications containing hormones that accelerate metabolism.
Trade names: Due to the huge variety in this group, it is more appropriate to talk about the
substances that may be contained in fat burners — caffeine, L-carnitine, linoleic acid, yohimbine, choline,
inositol, methionine, lipoic acid, chromium picolinate, etc.
Potential effect: As a rule, fat burners are recommended to be used in combination with physical
exercise, and there is no exact data on how much they contribute to weight loss.
Advantages: If we talk about classic fat burners such as L-carnitine, linoleic acid, caffeine
(provided the dosage is observed), they have a fairly mild effect on the body and, subject to parallel physical
activity and modest weight loss goals, can become the most gentle and effective support.
Disadvantages: In most cases, fat burners are complexes of several substances, each of which has
its own side effects and contraindications; moreover, unscrupulous manufacturers may not indicate the
composition in full, so in this situation it is important to choose a supplement together with a doctor.
What to pay attention to:
1
Fat burners will not work in the absence of intense physical activity.
2
When choosing a fat burner, you should also focus on the manufacturer's brand in order to avoid buying a "pig
in a poke".
Category: Metformin
Mechanism of action: Metformin reduces the absorption of glucose in the gastrointestinal tract,
increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin — cells are saturated faster and use glucose effectively, and
slows down the process of glucose synthesis by the liver.
Trade names: Monopreparations — Glucophage, Gluconorm, Formetin, etc.
Metformin in combination with other components — Glucovance, Reduxine Forte, Sygduo Long, etc.
Potential effect: Metformin is often talked about as a weight loss product, but its main
indication is the treatment of type 2 diabetes and control of blood sugar levels.
Advantages: Metformin is a well-established medication in diabetes therapy. Also, according to
studies, it prevents further weight gain, although it does not promote weight loss.
Disadvantages: Ineffective as a weight loss medication, but on doctor's orders it can be
combined with other representatives of the group for weight loss.
What to pay attention to:
1
The decision to take metformin is made together with the attending physician in case of a diagnosis of type 2
diabetes or insulin resistance.
Category: Weight loss supplements
Mechanism of action: This group of dietary supplements often overlaps with the category of fat
burners; common components of weight loss supplements also include diuretic and laxative products of natural
origin, which ensure weight loss.
Trade names: TurboSlim cleansing, Flying Swallow, weight loss teas, etc.
Potential effect: This category of products has no evidence base in the field of weight loss,
however, when it comes to diuretics and laxatives, we can say that they situationally provide a certain weight
loss. This effect is achieved primarily not through the reduction of fat mass, but through the intensive
removal of fluid and fecal matter from the body.
Advantages: With short-term use, this group of products is relatively safe for health.
Disadvantages: As a rule, weight loss supplements contain many components that may belong to
very different categories, so their effect may be unpredictable. However, long-term weight loss from this group
of products should not be expected.
What to pay attention to:
1
When choosing a weight loss supplement, you need to carefully read the composition in order to get an idea of
what the promised weight loss should be achieved through.
2
When buying weight loss supplements, it is worth focusing on the manufacturer's brand, since this guarantees
that the composition will not contain incompatible or undisclosed substances.