FDA approves a powerful new weight loss medication Saxenda! On December, 23rd, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a powerful new weight loss drug called Saxenda (liraglutide [rDNA origin] subcutaneous injection) as a treatment option for chronic weight management in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity, a 2nd such drug to be approved for weight loss in 2014 after approving Orexigen's Contrave(Bupropion and Naltrexone) just a few months ago. Saxenda, with the same active ingredient as the popular diabetes medication, Victoza, is approved for use in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (obesity) or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater (overweight) who have at least one weight-related condition such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol (dyslipidemia). What is body mass index? Popularly called BMI, body mass index measures a person's body fat based on an individual’s weight and height, is used