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Our medical experts develop long-term weight management plans and help you determine if weight loss medications are right for you.
Telehealth appointments are available.
Weight loss medications and injections can help you achieve and maintain meaningful weight loss when combined with healthy eating, physical activity and ongoing medical care. At Keck Medicine of USC, our specialists develop personalized weight management plans based on your health, weight loss goals, medical history and lifestyle. Our providers deliver a comprehensive range of treatments for obesity-related and metabolic conditions, including prescription weight loss medications and injections, nutritional guidance, optimization of metabolic health, minimally invasive treatments and bariatric surgery. We help you develop a plan that works for you based on your individual needs and health goals so that you can maintain a healthy weight, get back to doing the activities you love to do and control symptoms of weight-related conditions like diabetes, sleep apnea and more.
Weight loss medications are prescription medicines that can help people lose weight and maintain weight loss. Weight loss medications may be particularly helpful when there is no progress with diet and exercise alone. Some are taken by mouth, while others are given as injections. Many newer weight loss injections work by mimicking hormones that help regulate appetite, food intake and blood sugar. These include GLP-1 medications, including medications that target both GLP-1 and GIP pathways, which both affect the complex processes in your body that regulate your weight as well as directly impact your hunger and “food noise” signals.
Weight loss medications are most effective when combined with healthy eating, physical activity and ongoing medical care. They are one part of a comprehensive approach to treating obesity, which is a chronic disease that may require long-term management or other treatments such as endoscopic procedures or bariatric surgery.
Several prescription medications are FDA-approved for chronic weight management. Your doctor will consider your medical history, current medications, health conditions, treatment goals and potential side effects when determining which medication may be right for you.
GLP-1 medications
GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1. GLP-1 medications can reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness and slow the movement of food through the stomach.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 medication available as a weekly injection for chronic weight management under the brand name Wegovy. Semaglutide is also available as the brand name Ozempic for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Liraglutide is another GLP-1 medication available as a daily injection for chronic weight management under the brand name Saxenda.
GIP/GLP-1 medications
Some newer medications target more than one hormone pathway involved in appetite and metabolism.
Tirzepatide activates receptors for both GIP and GLP-1. It is available as a weekly injection for chronic weight management under the brand name Zepbound. Tirzepatide is also available under the brand name Mounjaro for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Oral weight loss medications
Not all weight loss medications are injections. Depending on your health and treatment goals, your doctor may recommend an oral medication.
Options may include:
Some weight loss medications are approved for long-term use, while others are intended for shorter-term treatment.
Clinical trials
As an academic medical system, we often participate in clinical trials for weight loss medications. Search for an open trial here and speak with your doctor to determine if you might be eligible to participate.
Weight loss medications may be appropriate for adults who have:
Before prescribing a weight loss medication, your doctor will evaluate your health and discuss your treatment goals. This may include reviewing:
Once you begin treatment, your care team will monitor your progress and make adjustments to your medication as needed.
At Keck Medicine, weight management is designed around you rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Our specialists can help determine which combination of treatments is most appropriate for your health and goals.
Depending on your needs, your personalized treatment plan may include weight loss medication, nutritional counseling, endoscopic treatment or metabolic and bariatric surgery.
As part of an academic health system, our physicians are at the forefront of clinical research, giving our patients access to cutting-edge treatments and clinical trials, including innovative interventions for obesity and metabolic disorders.
We are experts at treating a high volume of complex, obesity-related conditions, no matter your condition. Whether you are just starting out trying to lose weight or have been trying for years, we have options to help you reach your goal weight.
