A Guide to Supporting Patients Starting Weight Loss Therapy

For your patients who are starting on a new prescription weight loss medication, getting started often feels like the big step and the true obstacle. However, for healthcare professionals informed by their experience with many patients, the real challenge lies in getting patients to stick with their medication or working with them to find the right option.

One of the best ways a healthcare professional can support a patient’s weight loss journey—especially when they’re taking a prescription medication alongside diet and exercise—is to ensure the patient understands that they are there for them and genuinely interested in their progress and condition beyond the number on the scale.

Here is a list of questions to help you holistically check in with your patients about their therapy at every visit:

“Are you staying hydrated and getting enough rest?”

While your patients may think of taking a medication as a quick “take it and move on” element of their days, their healthcare professionals know that each weight loss medication has different, complicated, and oftentimes not entirely understood effects on physiology.

Add this to the various ways their organs, tissues, metabolisms, and more may be shifting due to concurrent changes to diet and exercise, and it’s even more that they are taking care of their baseline health by drinking enough water and getting enough sleep.

“Are you taking your medication consistently and as prescribed?”

As a healthcare professional, you ensure your patients are taking the correct dose and/or titrating their new medication correctly if needed. Also probe if your patient has been able to incorporate their medication into their daily routine, taking their medication consistently at the same time of the day.

Starting a new weight medication regimen is a lifestyle change, just like incorporating other new habits—a critical skill for any weight loss patient’s success. Regular check-ins and formal progress tracking (such as in a journal) are recommended.

“Are you experiencing any new symptoms or side effects?”

With any new medication, it’s important that both you and your patient are aware of potential side effects. These can vary from patient to patient and from medication to medication, but all have the potential to be serious bumps in the journey for your patient—and could cause them to stop taking their medication altogether. Refer to the Prescribing Information for your patient’s medication for any specific watch-outs and guidance on mitigating potential adverse effects.

Additionally, many of the side effects observed in prescription weight loss medications can impact the gastrointestinal system, with symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea. There is a risk that patients could possibly misattribute them to changes in diet when they are really a result of their medication.

“Are you being kind to yourself as you move towards progress?”

If you see a lot of patients looking to lose weight, there’s a chance you may see more patients fail than succeed. Healthcare professionals know more than anyone just how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off. It happens with small changes over time that create slow but sustainable progress. Remind your patients of this—and don’t forget it yourself.

If your patient is frustrated that the number on the scale isn’t dropping as quickly as they’d like, remind them of the medication’s data and ask them if they’ve noticed any non-scale victories. A quick check-in on their mental health is also great—do they seem proud of their progress or more despondent than ever?

This is a good opportunity to probe if your patient currently is (or should be) seeing a mental health specialist to help reduce stress and address any food psychology issues. If not, consider a referral.

A supportive healthcare provider can be the difference between failure and success for weight loss patients—by supporting their journey, you may have the opportunity to make a huge difference in their lifelong health.

CON-1547-001 01/24