If your doctor or healthcare provider has prescribed a medication for obesity, you may have questions about how it works, why it was chosen for you, and what to expect. Here are a few important things to know.
There Are Safe, Approved Options for Long-Term Obesity Care
In Canada, there are several Health Canada–approved prescription medications used for the long-term management of obesity. These treatments have been carefully studied and are recommended in national clinical practice guidelines.
Not every medication is right for every person. Your healthcare provider considers many factors when recommending a treatment, including your health history, other medical conditions, medications you take, and your personal goals.
How Obesity Medications Work
Obesity medications work in different ways to support your body’s biology. Depending on the treatment, they may:
- Help you feel full sooner or stay full longer
- Reduce hunger, cravings, or persistent “food noise”
- Support healthier blood sugar regulation
- Improve metabolic and cardiovascular health, sometimes independent of weight loss
Your provider’s goal is to choose a medication that best matches how your body works and what health improvements matter most to you.
Why Your Health History Matters
Obesity is a complex, chronic disease, and treatment is not one-size-fits-all. Your healthcare provider will consider:
- Your medical history
- Other medications you are using
- Past experiences with weight management
- Specific health priorities, such as blood sugar control, heart health, or appetite regulation
This individualized approach helps ensure the treatment is both safe and effective for you.
Dosing and Follow-Up Are Part of the Process
Most obesity medications are started at a low dose and increased gradually. This allows your body time to adjust and helps reduce side effects.
Regular follow-up with your healthcare provider is important to:
- Monitor how the medication is working
- Adjust dosing if needed
- Address side effects early
- Track meaningful health improvements, not just changes on the scale
A Note on Safety and Compounded Products
The medications recommended in Canadian guidelines are regulated, prescription products, meaning their quality, dose, and safety are closely monitored.
Clinical guidelines strongly caution against the use of compounded versions of obesity medications. These products are not approved or tested in the same way, may vary in strength or ingredients, and can pose safety risks. For these reasons, they are not recommended.
Obesity Medications Are Meant for Long-Term Use
Obesity is a chronic condition, and like other chronic diseases, it often requires ongoing treatment. Stopping medication commonly leads to weight regain and loss of the health benefits the medication provides.
Many experts in obesity medicine emphasize that long-term treatment works best when patients understand how the medication supports their biology and feel confident that the benefits outweigh the risks for them.
Finding support on the journey can really make it easier to stick with an obesity medication long-term. For more about that, click here.
The Importance of Knowledgeable, Supportive Care
Obesity care is most effective when patients work with a healthcare provider who understands the disease and offers ongoing support.
A qualified provider can:
- Explain how a treatment works in your body
- Adjust therapy over time as your needs change
- Help you focus on health improvements beyond weight alone
Understanding the biology of obesity can also help reduce blame and frustration and reinforce that treatment is about health, not willpower.
Redefining Success
Success in obesity care is not defined by a number on the scale. Improvements in energy, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, mobility, and overall quality of life are equally important outcomes.
Your healthcare team can help you identify what progress and success look like for you.
Advocating for Access and Coverage
While obesity is recognized as a chronic disease, insurance coverage for obesity medications has not yet fully caught up. Advocacy organizations such as Obesity Canada offer resources to help patients navigate insurance coverage and advocate with employers and policymakers.
Access to care continues to improve through patient and provider advocacy at provincial and national levels.
Final Takeaway
Obesity medications are tools that support your body’s biology, not shortcuts or failures of effort. When used as part of comprehensive, long-term care with a knowledgeable provider, they can play an important role in improving health and quality of life.
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Diet and exercise alone aren’t enough to help many people reach a healthier weight. Medical treatments are needed to address the biological changes happening in our bodies that can drive weight regain. To find a physician near you who specializes in weight management, click here.
This article was sponsored by Novo Nordisk Canada. All content is created independently by My Weight – What To Know with no influence from Novo Nordisk.
