Weight Loss Drugs vs. Bariatric Surgery – Which is Right For You?
If you’re trying to lose weight and finding it difficult, you may have considered taking medications or undergoing bariatric surgery. Both of these... read more
Medical Weight Loss
With continued advances in science and technology, numerous medications have become available for the treatment of obesity. Anti-Obesity Medications (AOMs) are emerging as one of the most exciting areas in the field of obesity medicine.
In general, there are two overall categories of AOMs:
- Oral, pill based medications
- Injectable medications
When compared side by side the injectable medications tend to be more effective in terms of weight loss, resulting in about 15-20% total body weight loss over the course of about a year vs. about 9-12% total body weight loss with the oral medications. However, injectable medications tend to be more expensive, especially without insurance coverage, and can also be harder to find in the pharmacy given some of their supply chain difficulties lately.
Injectable medications include Wegovy (Semaglutide) as well as Zepbound (Tirzepetide), both of which are FDA approved and on the market for the treatment of obesity. Oral medications include things like Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate), Contrave (buproprion-naltrexone), Lomaira/ Adipex (phentermine) as well as Orlistat.
Like all things related to weight loss, each of the medications are meant to be used with proper diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to maximize their potential effects.
Patients that qualify for these medications have a BMI>30 or have a BMI >27 with an obesity related co-morbidity (ie high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, etc).
Each initial consultation we will review your medical history, current medications, previous diet attempts and current diet/ exercise habits as well as your goals for weight loss. Together we then review the different medication options and come up with a plan that best fits your lifestyle and goals. We then meet every month, either virtually or in person to discuss your progress.
If interested in these options, we encourage you to contact your prescription insurance plan to determine if you have coverage for Anti-Obesity Medications. Unfortunately, these medications are not covered by standard Medicare or Medicaid plans by the state of New Jersey currently.
Dr. Ragui Sadek is a premier surgeon who established a state-of-the-art and one of the safest bariatric surgery programs in the state. Dr. Sadek has fellowship training in both laparoscopic/bariatric surgery and surgical trauma/critical care, allowing him to safely perform complex surgeries on patients who have been turned down by other practices. As a Clinical Assistant Professor of surgery at RWJ Medical School & the Director of bariatric surgery program at RWJ University Hospital, Dr. Sadek offers a cutting-edge range of laparoscopic, robotic, & bariatric surgical procedures with a complication rate substantially below the national average.
Dr. Sadek is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Having performed more than three thousand advanced surgical procedures, Dr. Sadek has established a strong patient satisfaction rate and a solid reputation among the surgical community and is renowned as a top physician in his field by International Association of Healthcare Professionals. As a board-certified surgeon, he holds affiliations with the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and the Society of American Gastro Endoscopic Surgeons. More about Dr. Sadek
News, Research & More
Stay current with Advanced Surgical & Bariatrics of New Jersey
