Weight loss with Semaglutides
Weight loss is by far the most common reason why people seek the help of a nutritionist…but its not really about weight. We don’t want to lose weight at any cost…if we did, we would opt to cut off limbs as that would be a very rapid way to lose weight. What people really want is to lose fat. And many people go to great lengths and significant risks to make that happen - surgeries, starvation diets, long term calorie restriction, herbs, supplements, medications, injections, freezing the fat, sucking it out - just to name a few.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the newer weight loss drugs - semaglutides like Ozempic, Wegovy and Monjauro.
A new study was just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looking at obese mice and the effects of semaglutide medications. The mice on the semaglutide did lose significantly more weight, but it was in the form of both fat and muscle. But it’s not just skeletal muscle…remember some organs are muscle tissue too. The researchers in this study noted a significant loss of heart muscle which has the potential to be detrimental in the long run. Like all medications, these drugs have benefits and risks. We each just have to weigh those risks against the benefits. Across all studies I’ve reviewed, one thing holds true (and it makes logical sense)...the smallest and shortest duration dosing comes with the least risk and fewest side effects.
Muscle isn’t just about being strong or helping us move through life…it’s also vital for blood sugar management, immunity, amino acid stores, healthy/strong bones, and more.
Numerous other studies have been conducted in humans using these medications and they consistently find the same risks and benefits: increased weight loss, but also increased muscle loss along with side effects like nausea, diarrhea, weakness, loss of strength, loss of appetite, hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, gallbladder dysfunction, thyroid cancer, retinopathy, kidney injury and cardiovascular changes. Some of these side effects are more common than others.
And of course, there’s also the risk of regaining the weight rapidly when going off of the medications. This is a significant risk, especially if there was a large amount of muscle lost along with the fat due to the changes in metabolic function with less muscle. This risk is greatest with those who didn’t make lifestyle and dietary changes while taking the drug. When they go off of the drug and continue with the standard American diet (likely going back to much larger portions when their appetite returns), the weight comes back on with a vengeance - often far exceeding the weight they originally lost.
Personally, I’m a big fan of doing everything possible in a natural way before resorting to medications for any condition. There are so many healthy ways to lose fat that don’t come with these kinds of risks. It’s never too late to start. I promise, even if you feel like you’ve done it all…you haven’t. There are many, many options to explore.
These medications do have their place and I’m thankful they exist for the people who truly need them. But they are not miracle cures or ideal for anyone long term.
Let your body do the healing. It has all the innate wisdom it needs. We just need to remove the interference and offer gentle supports to get the job done.
Until the next, be well and vibrant.
Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452302X24002869
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