An update on pharmacotherapeutic strategies for obesity

The field of obesity medicine has evolved over the past several years. With greater understanding of its pathophysiology, obesity is regarded more as a chronic disease than a lifestyle choice. However, it is difficult to treat with lifestyle modifications alone due to the complexity of energy dysregulation. The availability of anti-obesity medications (AOMs) provides practitioners with more effective and sustainable ways to treat obesity.

This review briefly summarizes the weight loss efficacy of AOMs currently approved for long-term use and expands on their therapeutic potential beyond weight loss with particular focus on obesity-related comorbidities. Possible future AOMs with promising phase II or III data are also covered.

The future of obesity medicine is in recognizing obesity as a disease and approaching treatment similarly to other chronic diseases. Lifestyle interventions alone are rarely sufficient in the treatment of chronic diseases, and pharmacotherapy often plays a necessary role in changing the course of disease. Current AOMs have proven efficacy in weight management and emerging therapeutic uses in obesity-related comorbidities, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. The development of new AOMs will further empower providers to deliver effective obesity management.