How to Qualify for Prescription Weight Loss Medications: A Comprehensive Guide

The journey for weight loss is a long and taxing adventure. Proper dieting, regular exercising, and a determined mindset for change are the cornerstone of any journey. You may find yourself right back where you started. For some, more barriers can slow your journey to a halt. Adding a prescription weight loss medication may assist them with their journey and help remove those barriers. 

There are a multitude of prescription weight loss medications that you can add to your weight loss plan. But who exactly is eligible for prescription weight loss medications? Your provider may recommend certain medications depending on your eligibility. 

Who Qualifies for Weight Loss Medication?

There are several factors that may affect your eligibility for prescription weight loss medications. Here's how to determine if you qualify:

• BMI > 30: A BMI greater than 30 signifies obesity, making you eligible for prescription weight loss medication.

• BMI > 27 with Weight-Related Medical Problems: Conditions like Type 2 Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, and others may qualify you for weight loss medications.

• History of Prior Weight Loss Medication Use: Previous use of weight loss medication or transitioning to a different one may make you eligible.

• Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery: If you've experienced significant weight regain after bariatric surgery, you may be eligible for prescription weight loss medication.

Complete our eligibility form to find out if you’re a good candidate for Mochi Health’s non-surgical weight loss program. 

Binge-Eating Disorder and Weight Loss Medication

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5th edition (DSM-5) defines Binge Eating Disorder as recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by both:

• Easing an amount of food larger than most people would in a particular period of time (within any 2-hour period)

• Sense of lack of control over eating during episodes 

With episodes associated with at least three of the following:

• Eating much more rapidly than normal

• Eating until feeling uncomfortable

• Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry

• Eating alone because of the embarrassment of how much food one is eating

• Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or guilty after overeating 

There are medications available to treat Binge Eating disorder, such as Vyvanse and Phentermine, which help with food cravings and appetite control. Your provider may perform a  Binge Eating Disorder Screener-7 (BEDS-7) Questionnaire to determine if you may have a Binge Eating Disorder.

History of Prior Weight Loss Medication Use 

If you have already used a weight loss medication or are transitioning to a different weight loss medication, you may already have eligibility. You may be transitioning for various reasons, such as lack of results, adverse effects, or changes in insurance coverage. Whatever the reason, it may still make you eligible for prescription weight loss medications. 

In fact, some medications may require you to have tried certain medications, like Metformin, for a period of time before starting a certain medication. This is commonly seen with the GLP-1 agonist medications like Wegovy and Saxenda. 

Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery

You may also be eligible for prescription weight loss medication if you experienced significant weight regain after undergoing bariatric surgery. You should first discuss with your provider or bariatric surgery team to determine if there is an underlying cause of the weight regains. Your bariatric surgeon may consider revising your surgery to prevent more weight regain. If not, your provider may suggest starting a prescription weight loss medication.

What Medications Are Available for Me?

Now that you know what makes you eligible for prescription weight loss medication, you may wonder what medications are out there. If you want to start a weight loss medication, check out our website at Mochi Health Medications. Here, you can review the vast list of prescription weight loss medications that best fit your weight loss journey! If you want to start a weight loss medications, check out our website at Mochi Health Medications. 

Sources 

1. Berkman ND, Brownley KA, Peat CM, et al. Management and Outcomes of Binge-Eating Disorder [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2015 Dec. (Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, No. 160.) Table 1, DSM-IV and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for binge-eating disorder. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK338301/table/introduction.t1/

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