Important considerations
“These medications treat a biological disease, not a lifestyle problem,” Dr. Grunvald said in a prepared statement. “Obesity is a disease that often does not respond to lifestyle interventions alone in the long term. Using medications as an option to assist with weight loss can improve weight-related complications like joint pain, diabetes, fatty liver, and hypertension.”
The authors acknowledged that cost remains a concern for the use of these therapies, especially among vulnerable populations. They also noted that the medications should not be used in pregnant individuals or those with bulimia nervosa, and they should be used with caution in people with other eating disorders. Patients with type 2 diabetes taking insulin or sulfonylureas and patients taking antihypertensives may require dosage adjustments since these obesity medications may increase risk of hypoglycemia for the former and decrease blood pressure for the latter.
The panel advised against orlistat, although it added that ”patients who place a high value on the potential small weight loss benefit and low value on gastrointestinal side effects may reasonably choose treatment with orlistat.” Those patients should take a multivitamin daily that contains vitamins A, D, E, and K at least 2 hours apart from orlistat.
The lack of available evidence for Gelesis100 oral superabsorbent hydrogel led the panel to suggest its use only in the context of a clinical trial.
The AGA will update these guidelines no later than 2025 and may issue rapid guidance updates until then as new evidence comes to light.
The guidelines did not receive any external funding, being fully funded by the AGA. The guideline chair and guideline methodologists had no relevant or direct conflicts of interest. All conflict of interest disclosures are maintained by the AGA office.