Guide To The Best Weight Loss Supplements For Women

Which Prescription Medications Work Best For Weight Loss?

A number of safe prescription medications have been gaining traction over the recent years. Among those medications, the GLP-1 medications have been rising in popularity as they can be safely taken and are highly effective.

Ozempic and Wegovy are two FDA-approved, injectable medications commonly prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes in adults and more recently to aid in weight loss.

The active ingredient in both Ozempic® and Wegovy® is semaglutide which mimics the body’s glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors and results in various functions including insulin secretion and appetite suppression to help achieve drastic weight loss (14).

Both drugs can be an extremely effective weight loss tool for:

1. Those struggling with obesity (BMI > 30)

2. Those who struggle with being overweight (BMI > 27) and are facing a serious health condition related to their weight such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. 

A large trial found that a once-weekly injection of semaglutide,, along with diet and exercise, resulted in a  weight reduction of around 15% after 68 weeks (15). 

For those who prefer to avoid injections, the oral GLP-1 medication, Rybelsus, may serve as an adequate alternative. Rybelsus is FDA-approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes though it is not formally FDA-approved for weight loss. However, it is often used “off-label” to help patients lose weight. The primary active ingredient in Rybelsus is also semaglutide, however, unlike Wegovy® which is injected, Rybelsus comes in pill form. One study showed weight loss to be a welcome side effect of Rybelsus in adults taking the medication for type 2 diabetes. The study showed on average a 5-pound weight loss after 26 weeks on Rybelsus without additional dietary or exercise changes (16). 

If you would like to learn more about GLP-1 medications or want to see if you might be eligible for medication-assisted weight loss, check out Mochi Health, where board-certified obesity medicine physicians can offer their expertise tailored to your specific needs.

References:

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3. Akbar A, Shreenath AP. High Fiber Diet. [Updated 2023 May 1]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559033/

4. Logan, S. L., & Spriet, L. L. (2015). Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for 12 Weeks Increases Resting and Exercise Metabolic Rate in Healthy Community-Dwelling Older Females. PloS one, 10(12), e0144828. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144828

5. Jurgens, T. M., Whelan, A. M., Killian, L., Doucette, S., Kirk, S., & Foy, E. (2012). Green tea for weight loss and weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 12(12), CD008650. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1002/14651858.CD008650.pub2

6. Rosenblum, J., Castro, V., Moore, C., & Kaplan, L. (2011). Calcium and vitamin D supplementation is associated with decreased abdominal visceral adipose tissue in overweight and obese adults. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523026205?via%3Dihub

7. Fiorentini, D., Cappadone, C., Farruggia, G., & Prata, C. (2021). Magnesium: Biochemistry, Nutrition, Detection, and Social Impact of Diseases Linked to Its Deficiency. Nutrients, 13(4), 1136. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.3390/nu13041136

8. Semwal, R. B., Semwal, D. K., Vermaak, I., & Viljoen, A. (2015). A comprehensive scientific overview of Garcinia cambogia. Fitoterapia, 102, 134–148. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1016/j.fitote.2015.02.012

9. Onakpoya, I., Hung, S. K., Perry, R., Wider, B., & Ernst, E. (2011). The Use of Garcinia Extract (Hydroxycitric Acid) as a Weight loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials. Journal of obesity, 2011, 509038. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/509038

10. Lunsford, K. E., Bodzin, A. S., Reino, D. C., Wang, H. L., & Busuttil, R. W. (2016). Dangerous dietary supplements: Garcinia cambogia-associated hepatic failure requiring transplantation. World journal of gastroenterology, 22(45), 10071–10076. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.3748/wjg.v22.i45.10071

11. Bent, S., Tiedt, T. N., Odden, M. C., & Shlipak, M. G. (2003). The relative safety of ephedra compared with other herbal products. Annals of internal medicine, 138(6), 468–471. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.7326/0003-4819-138-6-200303180-00010

12. Office of dietary supplements - ephedra. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Ephedra.aspx#:~:text=FDA%20Prohibits%20Sales%20of%20Dietary%20Supplements%20Containing%20Ephedra&text=prohibiting%20the%20sale%20of%20dietary,risk%20of%20illness%20or%20injury. 

13. Koncz, D., Tóth, B., Bahar, M. A., Roza, O., & Csupor, D. (2022). The Safety and Efficacy of Citrus aurantium (Bitter Orange) Extracts and p-Synephrine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients, 14(19), 4019. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14194019

14. Davies, M., Færch, L., Jeppesen, O. K., Pakseresht, A., Pedersen, S. D., Perreault, L., Rosenstock, J., Shimomura, I., Viljoen, A., Wadden, T. A., Lingvay, I., & STEP 2 Study Group (2021). Semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet (London, England), 397(10278), 971–984. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00213-0

15. Pella, C. J. (2024, February 13). Ozempic® for weight loss: What is Ozempic® & How it works: Mochi health. What Is Ozempic® & How It Works | Mochi Health. https://joinmochi.com/blogs/ozempic-for-weight-loss 

16. Davies, M., Færch, L., Jeppesen, O. K., Pakseresht, A., Pedersen, S. D., Perreault, L., Rosenstock, J., Shimomura, I., Viljoen, A., Wadden, T. A., Lingvay, I., & STEP 2 Study Group (2021). Semaglutide 2·4 mg once a week in adults with overweight or obesity, and type 2 diabetes (STEP 2): a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet (London, England), 397(10278), 971–984. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00213-0

17. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, Davies M, Van Gaal LF, Lingvay I, McGowan BM, Rosenstock J, Tran MTD, Wadden TA, Wharton S, Yokote K, Zeuthen N, Kushner RF; STEP 1 Study Group. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 18;384(11):989-1002. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33567185. 

18. Alhindi, Y., & Avery, A. (2022). The efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide for glycaemic management in adults with type 2 diabetes compared to subcutaneous semaglutide, placebo, and other GLP-1 RA Comparators: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451865422000618

This post was written by our team of health writers for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider for personalized guidance regarding your health. Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Mounjaro®, and Zepbound® and their delivery device are registered trademarks. Mochi Health is a telehealth clinic that offers prescriptions for these products by medical necessity only as determined by a licensed health provider.