People with obesity are at increased risk for many chronic health problems. These include type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Obesity also increases the risk of many common cancers, including colorectal cancer.

Doctors often prescribe medications for people with type 2 diabetes. These include metformin, insulin, and other drugs that help manage blood glucose (blood sugar) levels to reduce long-term complications of diabetes.

Over the last two decades, a class of antidiabetic drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) has become available for use by people with type 2 diabetes. These drugs—which include Ozempic, Trulicity, Wegovy, and Zepbound—not only help control blood glucose but can also promote weight loss. They reduce appetite both by their impact on the brain and by slowing movement of food through the digestive tract.