Promises of rapid weight loss, testimonials on social networks, celebrity influence… Weight loss medications are attracting growing interest, but what options are available in France, and especially validated by doctors?
Lose weight quickly, effortlessly. Today, several medications can be prescribed in France to help with weight loss. And we’re not talking about losing 2 kilos before summer… but several dozen. These medications are therefore not intended for excess weight that can be “easily” shed by rebalancing your diet and increasing your physical activity. “These are not treatments to lose 2 or 3 kilos“, Dr. Arnaud Cocaul, a nutritionist, immediately reminds us. But then what are these medications? What are they called? Who can have them? How?
The medications available today in France for weight loss are aimed at people who are obese or overweight with complications. Figures are defined based on BMI (body mass index). An adult is overweight from a BMI between 25 and 29.9 and obese at 30 or more. Before any prescription, a check-up with a doctor is necessary to understand the origin of the weight gain. “You need to understand why the person gained weight“, insists Dr. Cocaul. And you also have to go through a doctor to get a prescription for these treatments.
Their names? Mounjaro®, Wegovy® and Saxenda®. These weight loss medications are used by injection, in addition to a suitable diet and physical activity. Their principle is simple: they suppress hunger. “Patients eat less, and weight loss can be significant”observes the doctor. For some, it can reach 20 to 25 kilos. “It’s a mechanical effect: we eat less, therefore we lose weight.“. This effectiveness explains their success, but these treatments are not trivial.
Their main side effects are digestive: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Their cost, often high, also constitutes a significant obstacle because they are not reimbursed. And “it is not a lifelong treatment“, recalls Dr Cocaul, who warns against sometimes significant weight gains when stopping. We also sometimes talk about Ozempic. It belongs to the same family as these injections and actually helps you lose weight but it is only authorized in France for diabetic patients.
Alongside these injections, orlistat is still marketed in France, notably under the name Xenical®. Its mode of action is different: it reduces the absorption of fats by the intestine. But its effectiveness remains much more limited. “It’s around 5% of the weight, at most.“, specifies Dr Cocaul. A woman weighing, for example, 70 kilos will lose 3.5 kg with this medication and would increase to 66.5 kg. Its side effects are mainly digestive, sometimes very bothersome: fatty stools, anal leaks, diarrhea. Today, this type of treatment is used less and less, particularly given the results of the new injections.
On one point, things are clear: these medications cannot be purchased freely in pharmacies. “Xenical is also on prescription. It is not on sale“, recalls Dr. Cocaul. The doctor also warns against Internet purchases and false shortcuts. There is no miracle drug for losing weight. Even when a treatment works, it does not replace the in-depth work. “We need to work on diet, sleep and physical activity“insists the specialist. Without this support, the lost pounds return, and sometimes quickly after stopping the treatment.
