Weight loss pills are a variety of medications that can help you lose weight. These prescription medicines work by targeting specific areas of the brain that control appetite or increase feelings of fullness. They also help reduce the amount of fat that your body absorbs from food.
What can I take to reduce weight fast?
Some of these medications have been shown to help people who are overweight or obese lose, on average, 3% to 12% more of their starting body weight when used as part of a lifestyle program that includes changes in diet and exercise, counseling, and behavioral interventions. They can also help minimize weight regain once you stop taking them.
Diet pills that work sold under the brand names Xenical and Alli, works by blocking an enzyme in your stomach that helps absorb fats from your food. This decreases the amount of fat you absorb and makes it easier to lose weight.
Sold under the brand name Saxenda, and semaglutide, sold under the brand name Wegovy, are injectable drugs that work by blocking your body’s ability to make new fat cells. They can help you lose up to 15% of your initial body weight, on average, in clinical studies.
A combination pill containing naltrexone and bupropion, is also an effective medication to help you lose weight. It’s only available as a prescription, but in initial clinical studies, it helped people lose up to 5% of their starting weight.
When choosing a diet pill, talk to your pharmacist first about the ingredients. They can help you understand what’s in a particular product and point out any ingredients that might be unsafe or interfere with your other medications.