The FDA recently approved the prescription medication Belviq (Lorcaserin) to help those wanting to lose weight.
Belviq is a selective serotonin receptor blocker which has been shown to help some people feel less hungry. Could Belviq help you finally lose excess weight for good?
Yes and no. Studies show the effect of Belviq is modest, with people losing on average 5% of their excess body weight when taking the medication.
It’s best to think of these medications as a minor player in your weight loss journey, not the star of the show. You are much more likely to lose weight and keep it off if you focus on learning how to eat right, increasing physical activity and working to understand and break habits and patterns that have led to your weight gain in the first place.
While medication alone is not the answer to losing weight, I am very excited that doctors now have yet another option for helping to make the journey easier and more successful for the 1 in 3 people whose health is at risk because of excess weight.
Remember, it’s much more realistic to think of any medication as part of a multi-pronged weight loss solution that will take time and effort, but the results are well worth the wait.
Dr. Michael Kaplan
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
The Center for Medical Weight Loss
Tags: appetite, Belviq, diet pills, hunger, medical weight loss, medication, weight loss, weight loss medication
