The Doctor is In!
The More You Know About Weight Loss Drugs: Another well-timed column timed with the new year in full swing, as many readers made resolutions related to their overall health including changes to their diet and exercise routines.
Photo by Bob Warner
*** Please use the san serif font for the first (introductory) paragraph as design has been doing for this column***
Dr. Barry C. Dorn, your neighbor and a distinguished figure in the world of medicine, is renowned for his expertise in both general and orthopedic surgery. With an illustrious career spanning over five decades, he maintains a passion for healing and hopes to empower you to take control of your own healthcare journey. Questions are encouraged!
Weight loss drugs have several mechanisms of action, which make them effective.
- Wegovy and Ozempic are what are known as GLP-1 Receptor Antagonists-they both mimic a hormone produced in the gut which acts on the brain appetite regulation center to reduce hunger and give the feeling of fullness. They also delay Gastric emptying which allows what you eat to stay in the stomach longer. They can also improve insulin sensitivity which make them helpful in controlling type one diabetes.
- Mounjaro works the same way as the two above and it also reduces fat storage and improves metabolic efficiency.
- There are many other drugs either on the market or in development at the present time. However, the ones above are in the greatest use and demand.
What are some of the benefits of these drugs?
- Accelerated weight loss - although diet and exercise are important methods of weight loss, some patients do not achieve results quickly. By adding weight loss drugs, patients achieve results much quicker and can maintain the loss over time.
- Blood sugar control - the GLP-1receptor antagonists have the ability to regulate blood sugar and can be beneficial in type 1 diabetes.
- Quality of life - by helping to reduce and control body weight, patients can improve activity, decrease effects of long-term obesity and thus reduce the complications of obesity.
- Support those patients who cannot exercise because of other disabilities.
What are some risks of using these drugs?
- Constipation, dizziness and dry mouth.
- Misuse - these drugs should not be taken if some one wants to lose weight quickly and is not willing to augment them with correct diet and exercise.
- Dependency - because these drugs are so effective, patients who are unwilling to change lifestyle can become dependent and lead to addiction.
- Cost and accessibility - high cost and limited insurance coverage can make these treatments unavailable to many patients.
- Drug interactions - these drugs can have interactions with other drugs and since many obese people are on a host of drugs, care must be exercised in prescribing them.
- Mental health issues - obesity can lead to many disturbances of body image and mental health issues. Sometimes these drugs can exacerbate body image issues and lead to significant eating disorders.
Conclusions: The U.S. population is showing increasing signs of obesity which will lead to increasing health problems and then to increasing health care cost. Thus, the judicious use of these weight loss drugs can benefit the general health of the population. However, if used incorrectly, they could lead to dependency and negative changes in lifestyle. Many forms of obesity are beyond patient control; however, poor food choices and lack of desire to exercise should not become the reason to use these drugs.
Don’t forget, the doctor's office is always open.