The weight loss that is attained with these drugs occurs in the first four to six months of use. Continued use does not produce more weight loss, but does help with weight maintenance. If a reasonable goal weight is not attained, the patient may become discouraged and not be able to maintain the weight that has been lost. In those situations, a physician supervised low calorie, or very low calorie diet, in addition to the medications may be indicated. Lots of research is going on in this area and several new drugs are on the horizon.
Lifestyle changes are still necessary for long term success even if the medication is continued.
There are no secrets or new developments in how to lose weight. You must take in fewer calories each day than you expend or burn. There are 3500 calories in a pound of fat, and in order to lose one to two pounds a week, you must eat 500 to 1000 calories less per day than you did before you started the weight loss. Whenever caloric intake is decreased, and weight loss occurs, the body will tend to first burn protein, or actual muscle mass for energy, and then fat. This can only be prevented by greatly increasing the daily intake of protein.