How medical weight care works.

Who may qualify

Clinicians may consider a weight-management medicine for adults with:

• A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or
• A BMI of 27 or higher and a weight-related health problem, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes

BMI is a screening number, not a measure of your health. Your clinician looks at your full health history before recommending any treatment.

How GLP-1 medicines are used

GLP-1 medicines include semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), both approved for weight management. Most are injections, often once a week, and at least one is a daily pill. Clinicians usually start with a low dose and raise it slowly.

These medicines work best together with a program of healthier eating and physical activity. They don't replace it.

Side effects

The most common side effects affect your stomach: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, belly pain and less appetite. They happen more often at higher doses and often ease as your body adjusts.

Rarely, these medicines can cause pancreatitis or gallbladder problems. Tell your clinician about any side effect that worries you.

Who shouldn't take them

• People who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
• People with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2)

FDA-approved or compounded?

Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved, which means the FDA doesn't review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they're sold. The clinicians who will care for you through Jachi prescribe FDA-approved medicines, and only when they're right for you.

What ongoing care looks like

• Regular check-ins to track your progress and any side effects
• Dose changes, made slowly
• Lab tests, if your clinician needs them
• A plan for the long term: many people regain some weight after they stop the medicine

Sources

This guide is based on these public health sources:

1. Prescription Medications to Treat Overweight & Obesity, NIDDK
2. GLP-1 agonists, MedlinePlus
3. Orforglipron, MedlinePlus
4. FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss, FDA