The Appropriate Duration for Weight Loss Medication Use

The appropriate duration for weight loss medication use varies depending on the specific drug and the individual’s response.

• According to available information, weight loss drugs can be used in the short term, for example, up to 3 months and then reviewed.
• Orlistat, a pancreatic lipase inhibitor, is licensed for weight loss in the UK and is used as an adjunct to a low-fat diet in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 kg/m². The effects of orlistat are modest, and it is recommended that it should only be continued for 1 year, and only if the individual achieves a greater than 5% loss of body weight within the first 3 months of use, as fat-soluble vitamin deficiency may occur.
• A systematic review of long-term pharmacotherapy noted a paucity of long-term studies with anti-obesity agents. Weight loss trials often have a duration of 1 year.

Therefore, the duration of weight loss medication use is generally intended to be in the short to medium term, with ongoing review and consideration of effectiveness and potential side effects. For orlistat specifically, the recommended duration is up to one year, contingent on achieving a clinically significant weight loss in the initial three months.