Non-surgical weight loss treatment
With medication prescribed and monitored by a physician. Wegovy, the only one of the three approved by INVIMA (Colombia's drug regulator) for obesity, costs COP 938,601 to COP 1,550,000 per month at pharmacies
Medical treatment combines a weekly injection, which reduces appetite, with a nutrition plan and regular follow-up visits. At MDE Care we explain which medication is approved for your case and what it costs per month, and we connect you with internal medicine and nutrition specialists in Medellín so the physician can decide with you whether it is the right option.
14.9%
of body weight at 68 weeks with Wegovy
2 to 4 wks.
for appetite to decrease
9 to 18 mo.
to reach the maximum effect
Once
a week, the injection
Always with a prescription
and follow-up with the specialist
Are you a candidate for medical weight loss treatment?
With your height, your weight and your health history, we tell you whether you meet the criteria physicians usually apply to prescribe these medications.
Do you have any weight-related condition?
You may select more than one.
Do you have any of these conditions?
These are the contraindications of these medications.
The criteria, in numbers
BMI 30
or higher: may be prescribed even without weight-related conditions
BMI 27
or higher: if there is a weight-related condition
BMI 40
or higher: it is worth learning about surgery as well
Your result
Your body mass index
33.1
Criterion metYou may be a candidate for medical treatment
Your BMI is 30 or higher. The physician confirms it at the assessment, after reviewing your medical history, your lab results and the contraindications of the medication.
Next step
COP 150,000 to COP 300,000
Medical assessment visit, where the physician confirms whether the treatment is right for you.
* Guidance only, based on the published criteria for these medications. It does not replace the physician's judgment; the physician decides at the assessment based on your medical history and lab results.
How much does treatment cost and what results do studies show?
Choose the medication, the strength and the duration. We show you the pharmacy price, the separate consultations and the weight loss observed in studies, applied to your weight.
Medication
Strength
The strength and the dose are determined by the physician at the assessment.
Duration
What studies show, in numbers
14.9%
of body weight with semaglutide 2.4 mg at 68 weeks (STEP 1)
20.9%
of body weight with tirzepatide 15 mg at 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1)
2/3
of the weight lost was regained one year after stopping semaglutide
44.2%
had nausea with semaglutide 2.4 mg, compared with 17.4% with placebo
2 to 4 wks.
for appetite to begin decreasing
9 to 18 mo.
to reach the maximum effect of the medication
Your estimate
Wegovy 2.4 mg, monthly cost
COP 938,601 to COP 1,550,000
Medication for 6 months
COP 5,631,606 to COP 9,300,000
Separate, per visit
Follow-up visits are scheduled every one or two months; their cost is set at the assessment.
Reference result
The STEP 1 study, with semaglutide 2.4 mg, measured weight loss at 68 weeks, a longer period than 6 months.
The maximum effect is reached between 9 and 18 months, which is why we do not estimate kilograms for a 6-month plan.
If you stop it
In the STEP 1 extension study, one year after stopping semaglutide, participants regained on average two thirds of the weight they had lost.
* Pharmacy prices checked on October 6, 2026; they change with promotions and from one pharmacy to another. Each month is calculated with 4 weekly doses. All of these medications require a prescription. The result is for guidance only and does not replace the judgment of the physician.
What medical weight loss treatment includes
It is not just a medication. The treatment is led by internal medicine, which reviews your history, prescribes the medication and adjusts the dose; nutrition designs your eating plan, and regular follow-up visits make it possible to monitor side effects and progress.
These medications mimic gut hormones: semaglutide acts on the GLP-1 receptor, and tirzepatide on GLP-1 and GIP. You feel full sooner and less hungry. Appetite usually decreases within 2 to 4 weeks, and the maximum effect is reached between 9 and 18 months.
They are not used without a prescription. The physician sets and adjusts the dose.
They are not habit-forming, but the weight may come back if they are stopped.
Internal medicine consultation
Reviews your BMI, your weight-related conditions, your lab results and the contraindications before prescribing.
Prescription with titration
Treatment starts with a low dose that is increased gradually, so the body tolerates the medication better.
Nutrition plan
It accompanies the medication so the weight lost is fat and muscle is preserved.
Follow-up every one or two months
To adjust the dose and review side effects, with WhatsApp communication between visits.
Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro: INVIMA status, price and effectiveness
They are the three most searched for in Colombia, but they do not have the same approval. As of August 2026, only Wegovy is approved by INVIMA (Colombia's drug regulator) to treat obesity.
Wegovy
Semaglutide 2.4 mg
Approved in Colombia for obesity and overweight. It is the option with an approved indication for weight loss.
Ozempic
Semaglutide
Approved for type 2 diabetes. It contains the same molecule as Wegovy, but not the indication for obesity. We do not recommend it for weight loss.
Mounjaro
Tirzepatide
Registered for diabetes; as of August 2026, the obesity indication was not approved in Colombia. We do not recommend it for weight loss.
Swipe the table sideways to see all the columns.
| Medication | INVIMA status | Monthly pharmacy price | Reference weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy 2.4 mg | Approved for obesity | COP 938,601 to COP 1,550,000 | 14.9% at 68 weeks (STEP 1) |
| Wegovy 0.25 mg | Approved for obesity | No reliable data on the monthly cost | No published reference for this strength |
| Ozempic 1 mg | Type 2 diabetes only | COP 544,400 to COP 789,900 | No approved indication for obesity in Colombia |
| Mounjaro 2.5 mg | Diabetes only | COP 925,560 to COP 1,018,600 | No approved indication for obesity in Colombia |
| Mounjaro 5 mg | Diabetes only | COP 1,229,040 to COP 1,352,400 | |
| Mounjaro 10 mg | Diabetes only | COP 1,900,800 |
Prices checked at pharmacies in Colombia on October 6, 2026, calculated with 4 weekly doses per month. All of them require a prescription. Using Ozempic or Mounjaro for weight loss is outside their approved indication in Colombia: if the physician considers it, the physician decides and monitors its use.
Side effects and contraindications
The most common side effects are digestive, and they are usually temporary and mild to moderate. These are the figures from the studies, compared with the group that received placebo.
Semaglutide 2.4 mg (STEP 1)
Some 4.5% stopped treatment because of digestive symptoms, compared with 0.8% with placebo.
MedicationPlacebo
Tirzepatide (SURMOUNT-1)
In the SURMOUNT-1 study, the most common side effects were also digestive:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
In Colombia, Mounjaro is registered for diabetes only.
They are not prescribed if you have
- Medullary thyroid cancer, personal or family history.
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndrome (MEN2).
- Severe chronic pancreatitis.
- Allergy (hypersensitivity) to the medication.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
That is why they are not used without a prescription: the physician reviews these conditions before prescribing any of them.
What happens when you stop the medication
The medication works while it is being used. In the studies, most people who stopped it regained a good part of the weight, which is why the maintenance plan is defined from the start.
Semaglutide · STEP 1 extension
2/3
of the weight lost was regained on average one year after stopping it. Even so, weight remained 5.6% below the starting weight.
Tirzepatide · SURMOUNT-4
+14%
weight regained over 52 weeks after stopping it
-6.7%
additional loss when continuing it
After 36 weeks of treatment. In a later analysis, 82% of those who stopped it regained more than a quarter of the weight lost within a year.
Medications compared with surgery and endoscopic procedures
Weight loss in medication studies is lower than with mini gastric bypass, and it depends on staying on treatment.
Medications
14.9 to 20.9%
of total body weight, in studies of 68 to 72 weeks
A weekly injection for as long as treatment lasts. Wegovy: COP 938,601 to COP 1,550,000 per month.
Gastric balloon
10.2%
of total body weight at 6 months, in the Orbera balloon trial
Temporary, no incisions. COP 12,000,000 to COP 18,000,000.
Non-surgical · endoscopyEndoscopic sleeve
No incisions
reduces the stomach with sutures placed from the inside
COP 14,000,000 to COP 32,000,000.
SurgeryRoux-en-Y gastric bypass
75 to 85%
of excess weight at 2 years (a different measure: not total body weight)
From COP 26,000,000.
SurgeryMini gastric bypass
30 to 40%
of total body weight, according to published references (IFSO)
COP 20,000,000 to COP 32,000,000.
SurgeryGastric sleeve
60 to 70%
of excess weight at 18 to 24 months (a different measure: not total body weight)
From COP 23,000,000.
Medication and surgery at the same time?
They are not combined at the same time. The physician may prescribe the medication to lose weight before surgery, and decides when to stop it.
Compare every option, with and without surgery, in bariatric surgery in Medellín.
Your non-surgical treatment, step by step
Treatment takes place in outpatient visits, with no hospital stay. If you live outside Medellín, part of the follow-up can be done by telehealth.
Step 1
Medical assessment
With internal medicine: your history, your BMI and your weight-related conditions.
Step 2
Lab tests
Those the physician orders, to rule out contraindications.
Step 3
Prescription
A prescription with titration: a low dose at first and a gradual increase.
Step 4
Nutrition plan
A nutrition visit to preserve muscle while you lose weight.
Step 5
Follow-up visits
Every one or two months, to adjust the dose and review side effects.
Step 6
Telehealth and WhatsApp
Remote follow-up and contact between visits.
About non-surgical weight loss treatment
Is Wegovy approved in Colombia for weight loss?
Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss in Colombia?
What is the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?
How much does Wegovy cost per month in Colombia?
How much does Mounjaro cost per month?
What side effects do they have?
Is the weight regained after stopping the medication?
Do medications replace bariatric surgery?
Not sure whether medication, a procedure or surgery is right for you?
The bariatric surgery guide compares your case with every option, with and without surgery.
Other weight loss options
Request your assessment for medical treatment
Tell us your height, your weight and whether you have any weight-related conditions. We coordinate your visit with internal medicine and nutrition in Medellín, and the physician decides with you whether the treatment is right for your case.