Overweight and Obesity

How long will I need to take weight-loss medications to treat obesity?

The answer depends upon whether the medication helps you to lose and maintain weight and whether you have any side effects. Because obesity is a chronic disease, any treatment, whether drug or non-drug, may need to be continued for years, and perhaps a lifetime, to improve health and maintain a healthy weight. However, like many other types of drugs, there is still little information on how safe and effective weight-loss medications are for many years of use. At least one study has shown that intermittent use (one month on medication and one month off medication) may help some people lose and maintain weight, but more research is needed.