Prescription Weight Loss Drugs medicine

Keeping your weight in check sometimes can be a lifelong challenge. Following a healthy diet and staying physically active can help. So can prescription drugs.

Weight loss drugs may be an option for you if have obesity, which is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. For an adult who is  5 foot 8 inches tall, that’s a weight of 197 pounds or more.

Your doctor also may prescribe the drugs if your BMI is at least 27 and you have one or more weight-related health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Many people lose significant amount of weight with the medications. Others lose less or very little.