Understanding The Impact Of Medications On Weight Loss – The field of obesity treatment is witnessing a significant shift with the introduction of new weight loss drugs such as semaglutide and tirsepatide. These drugs are making strides in the fight against obesity and have shown impressive results in reducing body weight and improving blood sugar control. However, like all medical procedures, they come with their own set of limitations and potential side effects.
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are gaining recognition for their effectiveness in weight loss and blood sugar control. The SELECT study found that semaglutide can reduce the risk of heart disease, heart failure, and stroke in overweight or obese individuals without diabetes. Meanwhile, a separate study found that tirzepatide significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in obese adults, even leading to consistent reductions in different subgroups of participants after 36 weeks of treatment.
Understanding The Impact Of Medications On Weight Loss
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide work by mimicking metabolic hormones in the body. They regulate blood sugar, slow down digestion and reduce appetite, leading to weight loss and improved health. Tirsepatide, sold under the brand name Zepbound, was shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by 7.4 to 10.6 mmHg in participants with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or higher. Furthermore, the effects were consistent across all sexes, races, and BMIs.
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While the results are promising, these drugs have limitations. It is important to note that the long-term effects on cardiovascular events and the effects of treatment discontinuation are still under investigation. Potential side effects must also be considered when deciding to use these treatments. Additionally, the high cost and lack of coverage by insurance plans can make these drugs unaffordable for many.
Given the limitations of weight loss drugs, lifestyle medicine is emerging as a complementary approach. It focuses on promoting healthy habits and preventing chronic diseases. It emphasizes the need to address the root causes of obesity and promote healthy behaviors. This approach believes in the power of a balanced diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and stress management as the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to individual efforts, it is important to restructure public policies to promote healthy living. Policies that promote access to nutritious food, safe places for physical activity, and affordable health care are vital in the fight against obesity. A new era of weight loss treatments combined with lifestyle medicine and supportive public policies can potentially unlock a healthier future for individuals struggling with obesity. You may not be doing anything wrong. Some prescription drugs, not all, such as those used to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, mood disorders, seizures, and even migraines, can actually cause weight gain—even a few pounds per month. Whatever you do, don’t stop taking your medication without talking to a healthcare professional first. In most cases, your healthcare professional will be able to switch you to another drug that helps your condition but doesn’t cause weight gain, and in some cases, the drug may even help you lose a few pounds.
Sometimes it’s not the drug itself that causes weight gain; however, these are side effects of the drug. Some medications stimulate your appetite and make you eat more as a result. Others can affect how your body absorbs and stores glucose, which can lead to fat storage in the midsection. Some cause calories to be burned more slowly by changing your body’s metabolism. Others cause shortness of breath and fatigue, making it difficult for people to exercise. Other medications can cause water retention, which increases weight but not necessarily fat.
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Weight gain varies from person to person and from drug to drug. Some people can gain a few pounds over the course of a year, while other people can gain 10, 20 or more pounds in a few months. Because many of these drugs are used for chronic conditions, you can take them for several years, and their use contributes to significant weight gain over time.
If you want to offset weight gain or help lose excess weight, consider keeping a diary of what you eat and when you eat it. Becoming a mindful and conscious eater is a great first step to getting your weight off and keeping it off. You should also consider becoming more active; go for a walk with family and friends instead of watching TV or coffee. Being active burns calories, which helps offset any weight gain caused by medication. In the rest of this article, you will find a chart that details medications known to cause weight gain and some possible alternative medications:
If you are gaining weight and suspect that your current medication may be the cause, it is important that you do not stop taking the medication or switch to a lower dosage without first talking to your doctor. Stopping or changing treatment can lead to not treating a potentially serious medical condition that can put your health at risk. In most cases, there are other medications available that your doctor can switch you to that offer the same beneficial effect but do not cause excessive weight gain. If the medication cannot be changed, your doctor can advise you on dietary changes that may help and will likely encourage you to increase your aerobic exercise to compensate for any weight changes.
Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, is a pharmacist and health marketing expert and also serves as Vice Chair of the OAC National Board of Directors.
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Bonnie Kuehl, PhD, is CEO and founder of Scientific Insights® Consulting Group Inc., a scientific and medical research and communications company. Scientific Insights® specializes in interpreting scientific, medical and clinical information and technology – translating science into English. Bonnie holds a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Toronto and postdoctoral experience from the University of Dundee in Scotland and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Comprehensive obesity care requires collaboration with a qualified and compassionate physician. Find the right health care provider to talk about your weight and health at ObesityCareProviders.com. Injectable weight-loss drugs for diabetic and medically overweight patients are gaining national attention as a breakthrough in helping people lose weight. Celebrities who have spoken out about using the drug, viral TikTok videos and a growing media frenzy are popularizing the drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. And now a new study from the makers of Wegova has shown that the drug reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death by 20%. The trial followed 17,500 people with a history of heart disease for up to five years.
“The data from Wego is very exciting news,” says Dr. Mohini Aras, a specialist in obesity medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “We want people to treat obesity as a chronic medical condition that requires medical attention.”
About how drugs like Ozempic and Wegos work, who should (and shouldn’t) take them, and their risks and side effects.
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How do weight loss drugs work? dr. Aras: First, it’s important to understand that our brain is designed to resist starvation and maintain weight. When we lose weight, naturally occurring hormones send a message to our brain to increase hunger and cravings and slow down our metabolism. Our brain even makes our muscles more efficient, so we don’t burn as many calories with the same activity; this is the starvation response. As a result, people tend to yo-yo: they will lose, gain, lose and gain weight.
Weight loss drugs activate hormones that we naturally produce to regulate weight. There are currently five different weight loss medications approved by the FDA for the long-term treatment of obesity. These drugs target appetite and hunger, helping people feel full sooner and stay full longer. They can also affect cravings, thoughts of food, and binge eating.
Who are they recommended for? Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, and are FDA-approved for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.
Ozempic is FDA approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Wegovy is FDA-approved for people with a body mass index of 30 or higher or people with a BMI of 27 or higher who also have a weight-related medical condition.
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Weight affects so many chronic health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, fatty liver and some cancers – as well as problems like sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. Our goal in weight loss is to improve these conditions, and even a moderate weight loss of 5% to 10% can make a difference.
How are these medicines used? Ozempic and Wegovy are once-weekly injectable medications. They come as a pen and you inject yourself at home. It’s a subcutaneous injection, so you can give it in your thigh, abdomen or arm, and it’s a small needle that’s enough to pierce the skin – so it’s not too bothersome for people.
The oral version, taken once a day, will further open up the options for people and allow for individual preferences. Tablets are also easier to transport, unlike injectables, which have specific temperature requirements.
How can you get a prescription? We require a comprehensive medical examination including labs, vital signs and a complete medical history. We sew individually
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