Obviously as a dietitian, promoting a healthy diet and lifestyle are my top priority when working with patients. However, there are some instances where (temporarily) supplementing your efforts with a medication may help you reach your goals and keep you on track. Today I wanted to discuss what situations I come across when working with patients where I recommend they talk to their doctor about starting a weight loss medication, and what types of medications are on the market that your doctor may recommend. *I want to preface these reasons first by saying I work with patients one on one and can typically tell they’re being honest with me with eating balanced meals, meeting adequate calorie, macronutrient, and micronutrient requirements before going on to these options. I also assess if their current weight is healthy based on body composition and body type, and only recommend medication use if they are heavily overweight or obese and need further assistance with weight loss. 1. If You Feel Hungry ALL THE TIME If I have been working with a patient for a while and can tell they are being honest and are meeting all of their calorie, macronutrient, and micronutrient needs, but still feel like they are hungry most or all of the time, then adding a medication to suppress their appetite may be an option to help them reach their weight loss goals. Typically, a higher protein and high fiber diet with moderate amounts of healthy fats will help keep you satiated for longer, but if this still isn’t doing the trick, then a medication that helps suppress appetite may aid in reaching your goals. I know first hand how unbearable feeling hungry or unsatisfied can be, but the weight loss process should not feel like torture. If it has been months and you have met with a professional (whether it be a dietitian or doctor) to determine if more adjustments need made to your diet or lifestyle first, and nothing is working, then a medication that suppresses appetite may be something to consider. Some common appetite suppressing medications on the market currently include Phentermine, Bontril, Tenuate, Qsymia, Contrave, Ozempic, and Saxenda. All medications have risks for side effects so always talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of starting these medications.