Table 1.

Prescription medications approved for obesity treatment.

Weight-loss medication	Approved for	How it works
Orlistat (Xenical) Available in lower dose without prescription (Alli)	Adults and children ages 12 and older	Works in the gut to reduce the amount of fat the body absorbs from food
Liraglutide (Saxenda) Available by injection only	Adults	May decrease hunger or increase feelings of satiation. A lower dose under a different name of Victoza was approved to treat T2DM.
Phentermine-Topiramate (Qsymia)	Adults	A mix of topiramate, which is used to treat migraine headaches or seizures, and phentermine, which lessens appetite. May decrease hunger or increase feeling of satiation.
Naltrexone-Bupropion (Contrave)	Adults	A mix of naltrexone and bupropion. May decrease hunger or increase feelings of satiation.
Gelesis (Plenity) (84)	Adults	The gel pieces increase the volume and elasticity of the stomach and small intestine contents, contributing to a feeling of fullness and inducing weight loss.
Setmelanotide (Imcivree) (85)	Adults and children ages 6 and older	An agonist of the MC4R, used in individuals with severe obesity due to either POMC, PCSK1, or LEPR deficiency, and should not be used for other types of obesity such as general obesity.
Other medications that curb your desire to eat include •Phentermine (Adipex, Superenza) •Benzphetamine (Regimex, Didrex) •Diethylpropion (Tenuate) •Phendimetrazine (Bontril PDM)	Adults	Increase chemicals in the brain to make depress feelings of hunger or increase feelings of satiation.