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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Humans have spent thousands of years experimenting with weight loss aids. While Ozempic® and Wegovy® may be generating headlines today, they have a long list of less successful (and sometimes dangerous) predecessors. Back in the days of the Greek physician Hippocrates (460–377 BCE), practitioners recommended various plants, berries, and natural remedies for weight loss. These treatments were intended to produce nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Weight loss treatments have come a long way since then.According to Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, MFOMA, a physician specializing in obesity medicine and senior vice president of weight loss at Hims & Hers, it wasn’t until 1959, when the FDA approved phentermine, that weight loss treatments began to turn a corner. “That was really the beginning of the modern-day medical treatments for obesity,” says Dr. Primack. But the road to today’s treatment options has been long, bumpy, and polluted by those who prioritize weight loss over health and safety. The following timeline of weight loss medications covers the historical progression of weight loss drugs throughout the ages. In the late 1800s, physicians began using thyroid hormones to treat obesity. Originally intended for people with underactive thyroid, doctors believed these drugs could support weight loss. Many medical professionals voiced strong opposition when it became clear that these treatments lead to overactive thyroid.The 1940s marked the beginning of amphetamine use for weight loss. Amphetamines are stimulants that boost energy and decrease appetite. But medical professionals soon discovered these drugs, including methamphetamines, came with a high potential for addiction. The FDA approved a new central nervous system stimulant called phentermine for weight loss in 1959. As an amphetamine analogue, phentermine, which is still in use today, has a lower risk of dependence than its predecessor. Today, phentermine is combined with a medication called topiramate and sold under the brand name Qsymia®. This medication works to reduce hunger. When combined with physical activity, it may help maintain a calorie deficit to support weight loss goals. In 1960, the FDA approved the oral tablet Didrex® (benzphetamine hydrochloride), a central nervous system stimulant that can promote weight loss.It was also during the 1960s that Congress passed several drug safety laws, including the Kefauver‐Harris Amendments. For the first time, drug companies had to submit evidence showing the efficacy and safety of new drug products. This is why Saxenda® and similar weight loss injections today must meet strict regulatory standards before going to
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