The FDA on Friday approved a new weight-loss drug, Wegovy, for people who are either obese or overweight and have at least one weight-related medical problem. .

"We have to think about obesity no different than hypertension, than high cholesterol, than diabetes," said Dr.

Rubino said people taking existing obesity medications lose an average of about 7% to 9% of their body weight.

"People who require 10%, 15%, 20% weight loss, we need tools," she said.

During a 16-month study, patients on Wegovy lost an average of 17% of their body weight.

Patients taken off the drug gained back more than half their weight loss. .

Wegovy is similar to the diabetes drug Ozempic, which is already being prescribed off-label for weight loss