weight loss drugs Archives

In Weight Loss

Are Weight Loss Drugs the Way of the Future?

October 20, 2023 No Comments

Once upon a time Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig were the top names in weight loss. But today, weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic are taking over. They are putting many weight loss companies out of business.

What are the New Weight Loss Drugs?

Drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic use the active drug semaglutide which works by triggering the body’s glucagon-like peptide-1 hormones to tell your body to stop eating. It reduces your appetite, so you consume fewer calories.

Another drug called Mounjaro is similar to Wegovy and Ozempic but has an active ingredient called tirezapatide. Like the other drugs, Tirezepatide works on the GLP-1 receptors, but it also affects the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. The double impact makes it even more effective.

How the New Drugs are Affecting the Weight Loss Kings

The new drugs are so effective they are putting many weight loss companies out of business. Jenny Craig, which has been around since the 80s, announced it would be closing its doors last week. Weight Watchers stocks plunged by about 29% after the FDA approved Wegovy for obesity.

Weight Watchers is taking life-saving measures by incorporating weight loss drugs into its diet programs. The day they decided to embrace Wegovy, their stocks climbed up 70%.

“Unless they change to somehow incorporate medications, yes, I think in the next few years we will see a lot of change in the diet industry including many businesses closing,” said Dr. Shauna Levy, an obesity medicine specialist at Tulane University at New Orleans commenting on diet companies’ plights.

Are Weight Loss Drugs Safe?

Although weight loss drugs are an ‘easy way out’ for people dealing with obesity, they come with their share of drawbacks. Wegovy injections cost a little more than $1300 per package which breaks down to $270 a week or $16,190 a year.

It also remains unclear whether you must stay on these drugs for life. Research suggests that people may regain their weight after they stop using the drugs if the source of the weight gain is not addressed. They also say the drug causes muscle loss making weight gain more of an issue.

You may also risk getting attacked by people who are judgmental of those that lose weight without putting in the work. But that could be the least of your worries.

Wegovy and Ozempic should not be used with any other weight loss products, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or drugs that contain semaglutide. They may not be safe for people with a history of pancreas conditions.

The drugs can be prescribed to people with a BMI of 30 or higher who are considered obese. They may also be prescribed to adults with a BMI of 27 or higher with a weight-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. They can be prescribed to children 12 and over with a BMI in the 95^th percentile or higher.

So what’s your take on it? Will you be trying weight loss drugs? Or are the old-fashioned diet companies more your speed?

New Obesity Drug Has Researchers Stunned

April 20, 2023 No Comments

There are many drugs on the market that are designed to reduce obesity. They include OTC brands that have varying effects, and doctor prescribed medications that may be more reliable but cause unwanted side effects. But now a breakthrough drug has been created that has researchers stunned.

Announced at the ObesityWeek conference in San Diego, Nov. 22, by Denmark pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, semaglutide comes in the form of an injection. When used over a 16-month period, it has been shown to reduce body weight by at least 20% in more than a third of study participants. It was shown to be effective in teenagers, who are normally resistant to such drugs, as well as adults.

How Does it Work?

The drug works by mimicking incretins, hormones in the body that lower blood sugar and curb appetite. It has been approved to treat type 2 diabetes and is currently under review for the treatment of weight loss. Unlike other anti-obesity drugs, it does not cause unwanted side effects.

The fact that the drug changes the biology of the body to promote weight loss backs the fact that obesity may be a disease rather than the result of someone being unwilling to eat well and exercise. There is growing evidence that people have a certain body size that can be hard to change. “The body will defend its weight,” states Richard DiMarchi, an Indiana University Bloomington chemist.

Semaglutide is a modified version of liraglutide, a drug that has long been used to effectively work on receptors in the brain to reduce appetite and slow digestion. However, semaglutide remains intact longer so it has more significant effects. It may also have better access to regions in the brain that control appetite.

Questions Regarding the Drug

Although the drug shows promise, scientists still have questions regarding its practical use. For one, will people have to take the drug for a lifetime to maintain results? Participants in some studies have been shown to regain two-thirds of their weight back within one year after the trial stopped.

It’s also uncertain who will respond to these drugs and who won’t. So far, people with type 2 diabetes seemed to be more resistant to the drug than those who don’t have the disease. There are also questions as to whether fatty liver disease and other diseases where there is fat around the organs may negatively affect responsiveness.

There are also concerns about cost. The drug set you back as much as $1300 a month, an expense most insurance companies are unwilling to cover.

And will the drug stigmatize overweightness which isn’t always at the root of people’s health problems? And will it make people think that taking the drug is a quick fix that can replace a healthy diet and exercise?

All that needs to be worked out. But in the meantime, we can take a step back and marvel at the potential of this new wonder drug. It is hopeful that it makes changes for the better in the world of weight loss.

Can Drugs Help You Lose Weight?

February 16, 2023 No Comments

Losing weight isn’t easy. Many people spend months depriving themselves of food and over-exerting themselves with exercise and still don’t see the results they are hoping for. The promise of taking a pill that will help them reach their weight loss goals can be awfully tempting.

There are several weight loss pills on the market that may lure people in with their promise of helping them achieve optimal fitness. But do they really work? Read on to find out.

Do OTC Drugs Work?

There are a variety of OTC drugs on the market that promise to help you lose weight. They will typically contain ingredients such as botanicals, dietary fiber, caffeine, and minerals. In most cases, the amount of scientific information on these ingredients varies wildly making it difficult to come up with a logical conclusion on how effective they can be in aiding weight loss.

Furthermore, the variety of ingredients in each product make it nearly impossible to determine how effective each ingredient is on its own. Its effects can also change when it’s combined with other ingredients. Dosage amounts and active components also play a role in how well the product will help you reach your weight loss goals.

Consumers must also consider that weight loss supplements, like other supplements, are not approved by the FDA. Therefore, they may contain excessive amounts of caffeine and other ingredients that can produce harmful side effects.

What About Doctor Prescribed Weight Loss Medications?

Weight loss medications may be prescribed to people that have obesity that’s threatening their health. They may be prescribed to someone with a BMI over 30 or to someone with a BMI over 27 with other health conditions.

The pills are not a magic cure, but they help you lose 3% – 12% of your total body weight. This is enough to reduce health risks. If combined with the right diet and exercise routine, they may help you reach your fitness goals.

Here are some drugs that are commonly prescribed.

Liraglutide mimics the hormone that tells your brain your stomach is full.
Tirzepatide activates hormone receptors that increase blood sugar control.
Naltrexone HCL and bupropion are combined into the drug Contrave which is used to treat depression, seasonal affective disorder, and addiction to opioids, alcohol, and nicotine.
Orlistat stops your body from absorbing a third of the fat you eat.
Phentermine is an amphetamine that curbs your appetite. It can also be combined with topiramate to produce similar results.
Semaglutide imitates an intestinal organ that stimulates insulin production lowering your appetite and making you feel full.
Setmalanotide is prescribed only to people who have certain rare inherited conditions. It doesn’t treat these conditions, but it keeps weight under control by making you feel fuller and helping you burn calories.

A magic pill may seem like the ideal option in helping you lose weight. But beware as some are not all they are cracked up to be. OTC options are dubious, and prescription choices are only prescribed in emergency situations. A healthy diet and exercise routine is really the best solution.

Here’s hoping you stay fit and healthy.