Amanda, a 35-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes, struggling to lose weight, is the patient. She requests a prescription for Belviq, the new weight loss medication she has heard so much about, to begin her weight loss. Her BMI is 31, and her HbA1c level is 8.2. Amanda’s family history suggests that, in addition to diabetes, she is predisposed to coronary artery disease. American Diabetes Association (2016) states that for overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes who are ready to lose weight, a 5% weight reduction diet, physical exercise, and behavioral counseling should be provided.
Such therapies should be high-intensity (eighteen sessions over six months) and focus on nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral techniques to produce a 500-750 kcal/day energy deficit (American Diabetes Association, 2016). Thus, weight reduction can be achieved with lifestyle regimens that create an energy deficit of 500-750 kcal/day or supply roughly 1,200-1,500 kcal/day for women. Diets differ in the sorts of foods they limit, such as high-fat or high-carbohydrate meals, but if all are successfully provided, an energy deficit is created (American Diabetes Association, 2016). Amanda’s diet should be chosen depending on her health situation and preferences.
The patient is already taking medications to assist her in losing weight, such as Metformin 1 Gm bid. Significantly, the FDA recommended that the manufacturer of Belviq and Belviq XR (active component lorcaserin) voluntarily withdraw the weight-loss medicine from the U.S. market since a clinical safety trial revealed an increase in cancer incidence (FDA Drug Safety Podcast, 2022). Hence, patients should discontinue lorcaserin and consult with their clinicians about alternate weight-loss medications and weight-management strategies. As a result, I will educate Amanda about the higher occurrence of cancer in the clinical study and explain why she should not take the drug. I will discuss other weight-loss options with her, such as physical activity programs and diets.
References
American Diabetes Association. (2016). Obesity management for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 39(10). 547-551. Web.
FDA Drug Safety Podcast. (2022). FDA requests the withdrawal of the weight-loss drug Belviq, Belviq XR (lorcaserin) from the market. [Audio podcast]. FDA. Web.