In the treatment of obesity and severe overweight - in combination with the basic program (nutritional therapy, exercise therapy, behavioral therapy) - weight-reducing medication is also an option.
The drug Orlistat is approved for the treatment of obesity. The active ingredient in capsule form belongs to the lipase inhibitors, a group of active ingredients that inhibit the enzyme lipase in the intestine. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down certain fats (triglycerides). Without the enzyme, the body cannot absorb and utilize triglycerides. Orlistat reduces fat intake by around 30 percent, which reduces calorie intake and thus helps you lose weight. Those affected can also reduce their weight by around three to four kilograms with Orlistat.
In Switzerland, three products are currently approved as so-called “weight loss injections”: Liraglutide, Semaglutide and Tirzepatide. The active ingredients were originally developed for the treatment of diabetes, but are now also approved for the treatment of obesity and are covered by health insurance companies. Liraglutide (known under the trade names Vitoza®, Saxenda®), semaglutide (known under the trade names Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Wegovy®) and tirzepatide (known under the trade name Mounjaro®) are similar to a natural satiety hormone. The stomach empties less quickly after meals and hunger is less likely to return. Those affected can reduce their weight by around seven to ten percent with liraglutide, with semaglutide the weight loss is around 15% and with tirzepatide around 20%. The effect occurs primarily because people simply eat less.
Saxenda® is injected under the skin daily, Wegovy® and Mounjaro® once a week using a pen. The dose is increased in steps to ensure good familiarization. After one month, most people have already lost around two to three kilograms. As obesity is a chronic disease, the therapy is also designed for the long term. The products are used for at least several months. The duration of therapy is individually adapted to the patient and is therefore very variable: some stabilize their weight without medication after 1-2 years, others require lifelong therapy.
All the medicines mentioned are prescription-only and are prescribed by a doctor. Patients are closely monitored at the Adiposity Center Zurich throughout the entire treatment period in order to quickly detect and treat any undesirable side effects. In addition, we always help patients to change their lifestyle and eating habits at the same time as taking their medication, so that weight loss can be guaranteed in the long term and even after the medication has been discontinued.
The weight loss injection is intended for people for whom significant weight reduction is medically necessary. As a rule, these are people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Weight loss medication may also be an option for people with a BMI of 27 or more who also suffer from conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or other weight-related health problems. It should always be taken under medical supervision and in combination with a lifestyle change.
This is what happens after every diet if diet and lifestyle have not been changed: Appetite increases and you gain weight again. For obesity sufferers in particular, however, an initial significant weight loss offers the chance that exercise and sport will be possible again. Additional movement can have a lasting effect.
The high demand for the so-called “slimming injection”, also triggered by the hype in the social media and by celebrities, has meant that manufacturers are unable to increase production quickly enough to meet demand. This repeatedly leads to delivery delays and bottlenecks. Although manufacturers are now ramping up production, availability will certainly remain difficult for some time to come. It is important that the products developed for people with diabetes remain available in this area of application.
At the USZ, we clearly do not use the syringes as lifestyle diet aids. From a medical point of view, however, promoting weight loss in this way is to be welcomed in severely overweight people. This allows us to reduce the risk of secondary diseases such as type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular problems. From a cost perspective, too, it is ultimately cheaper to prevent cardiovascular problems than to finance rehabilitation after a heart attack.
Weight loss medication is only available on prescription and should only be taken under medical supervision. Contact your family doctor or a specialized center to receive holistic and individual treatment for your weight problem.
Only buy medicines from reputable suppliers – counterfeits are also sold because of the huge hype surrounding these medicines.
In the obesity consultation, we discuss individual diet and exercise measures and evaluate drug and surgical therapies. Due to the large number of requests, only referrals from your doctor are currently possible.
Leading experts in the field of obesity from a wide range of disciplines work closely together to define a customized treatment pathway for your patients. We look forward to your assignment.