Family Considerations in the Treatment of Adult Obesity With Antiobesity Medications

Adult weight management guidelines recommend offering antiobesity medications (AOMs) as an adjunct to lifestyle modification approaches. Consequently, prescriptions for AOMs are at an unprecedented high, with some estimates suggesting that one in eight US adults report ever taking an AOM. AOMs induce clinically meaningful weight loss for many; concerns about accessibility, cost, long-term efficacy and safety, and changes in eating behavior and psychosocial functioning remain unanswered. A question that has not been asked pertains to the family system. Family members' acceptability and perception of AOMs may dictate adherence, and established family and household routines and dynamics may influence individual behavior change during or after AOM use. This Perspective considers aspects of the family context with health behavior change and weight loss. The paper concludes with suggestions for future research to explore positive ripple effects and unintended consequences that AOMs could have on individual family members and family dynamics.