Weight-loss medications have been in high demand in recent years. In 2023, the top three brands had a combined sales of $21.1 billion, according to statistics from the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan research group.
When you think weight loss medication might be right for you, step one is having a conversation with a healthcare provider. Your clinician will help you determine if you’re a good candidate for it, considering your health history and lifestyle.
You may also want to discuss your decision-making about the meds with your partner or other family members. Here’s expert advice about how to keep these conversations productive, not awkward.
How to talk to your doctor about weight loss medication
You might feel nervous about bringing up concerns about your weight and how you’re looking for healthy solutions. That’s understandable. Weight stigma is prevalent in healthcare, according to research published in the journal Obesity Reviews.
Stigma can show up in the way healthcare providers communicate and provide care. For instance, they may look at unrelated health issues through the lens of your weight.
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There are a few different ways to talk to your doctor about weight loss medication. If your doctor has mentioned your weight or weight-related complications like diabetes before, refer to those discussions.
“When having difficult conversations, this is a good way to start, by having a reference point that isn’t from you, but rather from the other person,” says Loren Soeiro, Ph.D., a therapist based in New York City. “You’re making contact with something that they’ve already told you they think is important.”
Next, explain your concern. For example, you could say something like: Remember that time you said diabetes could someday be an issue for me? I worry about things like that, and that’s why I wonder if I should look into ways to deal with it, including weight loss or weight loss medication.
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Share that you are thinking about contacting a company that offers these drugs to learn more, Soeiro suggests. Then ask if your doctor can provide more information to help you decide.
If you start taking weight loss medication, inform your other healthcare providers. They need to know so they don’t prescribe another drug or recommend a procedure that isn’t safe to combine with your meds.
You might feel uncomfortable telling an office receptionist about the med or even writing it on a form that the clerical staff can read. It’s fair to ask for a more private way to update your medication list, says Soeiro. “It’s a vulnerable moment where you’re communicating that you know you have this concern,” he says.
How to talk to your partner about weight loss medication
There are a few reasons why you may want to chat with your partner about starting on a weight loss med. One is that the drug’s appetite-suppressing effects might affect your social life, especially if you enjoy late-night ice cream runs or three-course meals together. Let your partner know you’re still up for dates that involve yummy food—but that you’ll probably order smaller portions.
“Eating calorie-dense food in moderation can still be special,” says Lawrence Josephs, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Adelphi University. “The fun and intimacy isn’t tied to overdoing it but to doing something pleasurable together.”
You also may want to talk about potential side effects, such as GI disturbances, so that you normalize them and don’t feel the need to be secretive about what you’re experiencing.
Another reason to start the convo? You two may need to factor the cost of weight loss meds into your budget. About half of people who have taken GLP-1 agonist weight loss medications say it was difficult to afford the costs, according to research by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Ideally, major expenses should be joint decisions for a couple, even though these conversations can be touchy around health and medical costs, says Josephs. Start by explaining why you want to take the medication. Answer questions as needed. For instance, why you feel it’s important to address a health issue in this way.
When a conversation like this goes sideways, take a breather, says Josephs. “This, I would say, is a general principle of partner communication about any issue where there’s not a meeting of minds,” he says. “If you get a lot of pushback after speaking your mind, it can turn into an argument—especially if you try to get the person to validate or accept your argument.”
Agree to disagree for now, he says, and revisit the conversation in a few days when you’re both more relaxed, open-minded, and reflective.
How to talk to family and friends about weight loss meds
If you keep your inner circle of family and friends informed about your health, you might share your thoughts and knowledge about weight loss medication. Provide context for why you’re telling them.
For example, for someone who’s your healthcare proxy or emergency contact, let them know you are telling them specifically so that they have up-to-date information. Be clear about how private you want to keep this information.
If you decide to start taking weight loss medication and a friend or family member outside your inner circle asks you whether you’re taking one, remember: You’re not required to answer any question that makes you uncomfortable.
“First of all, you don’t have to answer it,” says Soeiro. If you need a zinger back, say something like: Whoa. That is an extremely blunt question. I’m surprised that people ask things like that. Thanks for noticing that I have lost weight.
And to avoid follow-up questions, speak firmly and definitively. Hopefully, they’ll get the message.
If you think a weight loss medication like semaglutide might be right for you, chat with a ReflexMD Wellness Advisor now or take our short quiz to see if you qualify.
READ MORE: What You Should Know About Semaglutide’s Side Effects