GLP-1 medications, especially newer ones like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) have been game changers in the field of weight management and metabolic care.
As an obesity and metabolic health specialist, I have been prescribing GLP-1 meds for close to a decade. Beyond helping with weight loss, these medications treat type 2 diabetes. They also treat cardiovascular risk in those with history of stroke and heart attack, metabolic associated steatohepatitis or MASH liver disease, as well as obstructive sleep apnea.
GLP-1 medications are part of a medical treatment plan, not just some “tool” one should purchase online through some “peptide connection” on Facebook or on the internet! It can be dangerous and who is managing your treatment plan counts!
Along with their benefits, they are serious medications with risks and side effects. There are concerns for contaminants in bootleg versions and even with branded medication, it can be risky if an experienced health care provider is not managing your treatment plan.
When people are on GLP-1 medications, they require close medical supervision. This helps to ensure proper dosing for a safe rate and amount of weight loss. Experienced health care providers can also guide you if you are hitting a weight loss plateau. I provided expertise in this article on how to manage weight loss plateaus on Wegovy https://www.goodrx.com/wegovy/why-not-losing-weight
Proper dosing will help manage side effects like nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea or abdominal pain. Also, we use dietary counseling to help manage side effects, as people on these medications have more side effects when consuming high fat foods or lacking fiber in their diet.
As an obesity and metabolic health specialist, we screen patients for underlying nutritional deficiencies.We want to ensure these don’t worsen once people have started limiting their food intake on GLP-1 medications.
If not diagnosed and properly supplemented, these deficiencies will worsen over time. B12, Vitamin D, iron and other micronutrient deficiencies can lead to malnutrition, hair loss, fatigue, bone loss and more!
So, we want to avoid malnutrition on GLP-1 meds! Getting proper nutrition counseling and monitoring of your weight loss and nutrition status are important.
With reduced appetite, there can be not only a reduced intake of food and nutrients, but people can experience large amounts of muscle loss. Muscle loss leads to frailty, weakness and more risk for weight regain in the long-term. Muscle is our metabolic furnace. With loss of muscle, there’s worsening of insulin resistance. Loss of muscle leads to increased risk for weight gain and worsening of blood sugar issues like pre-diabetes and diabetes.
Lastly, you did not choose to take a medication for weight loss just to regain all the weight back. Right? Sadly, this is the scenario for too many people.
After weight loss, people are vulnerable to weight regain if they come off medications abruptly. If you have decided to come off medication, your health care provider should guide you on properly tapering off the medication and also guide you on what to do if/when you start to regain. Studies and real world data, show that weight regain usually happens. Therefore, people benefit possibly from a maintenance medication dosing or a follow up plan to manage.
Weight regain happens because of protective mechanisms and complex pathways in our brain and body. These hormonal pathways lead to regain after weight loss. It is not a person’s failure or fault if they regain weight. Avoid the yo-yo of loss and regain by getting proper guidance and management for maintenance!
You can read about reasons for weight regain here https://myradianthealth.com/how-weight-loss-medications-can-help-break-the-cycle-of-weight-loss-and-regain/
It is important to protect yourself by making sure you are getting care that goes beyond a prescription sent to you in the mail, without any guidance. This is happening to so many people and the consequences are scary!
If you are on GLP-1 medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide, you DESERVE to feel well and stay well in the long-term. Get your GLP-1 medications care by partnering with healthcare providers who will provide medical oversight and care.
