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A YEAR IN REVIEW – MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS WITH GLP-1’s 

Do you often wonder if weight loss medication is the right fit for you?  There is so much confusing information in the news that it’s hard to know what is true and what isn’t.  Read on for the answers you are looking for on GLP-1’s.

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED THIS YEAR

It has been over a year since we launched the Medical Weight Loss Program at Blum Center for Health, and over five years since Ozempic first hit the market and changed the weight loss landscape.  As a Functional Medicine provider managing medical weight loss, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have had on patients.

Not only are people reporting weight loss, but we have also observed that the medication dramatically reduces cravings, and “food noise” – that incessant voice in the back of your mind, often driving your food choices. This quieting of the mind provides the “space” needed to change ingrained behaviors. As an example, once night eating is no longer irresistible, you have the space to work on new strategies that will keep you out of the cookie jar once you wean off medication. New tools, new life!

Herein lies the power of weight loss with us at Blum Center. The reality is that while these medications represent a major breakthrough in weight management, and they feel like a magic bullet in the short run, we think of these medications as just one piece of the puzzle.  For your weight loss journey to be successful in the long run (and the key to keeping the weight off), is to spend equal time on the other puzzle pieces – lifestyle, nutrition, body composition, stress management, hormone balance, gut health. 

In other words, discovering the root cause of your metabolic imbalance, and treating that, will give you the tools you need to maintain it.

IN ADDITION TO WEIGHT LOSS…

What do we witness with this multi-pronged approach? People who are more confident, stepping into their power, feeling good in their bodies, and healthier as evidenced by their blood labs and functional medicine testing before and after.

And just to thread the needle, it appears there are other benefits besides weight loss and reduced cravings, which are currently being explored by researchers.  And we’ve been seeing these improvements, too, in our office: 

  • Reducing sleep apnea
  • Dementia prevention/neuroprotective (Evoke and EVOKE+ trials) 
  • Treating addiction and addictive behaviors (helps with cravings, reduces food “noise”) 
  • Boosting immune function (The Select Trial) 
  • Reducing cardiovascular risk including lowering blood pressure (Select trial) 

Pretty cool, right?

Here are some of the most common questions we receive about GLP-1’s:

What if I’m not obese or diabetic – can I still use these medications? 

Many of the patients we see feel stuck in a rut with weight loss despite trying their usual diet and exercise tricks. Using a GLP-1 agonist as a tool to kick start weight loss for even a few weeks or months can often be beneficial to jumpstart the process while also investigating the root causes of the possible metabolic issues.  

Will I just gain the weight back? 

Well, here’s the truth bomb that you’re likely not hearing: the data across America shows that if no lifestyle changes are made, patients who discontinue GLP-1 agonists will regain about 2/3rd of their lost weight after stopping. This illustrates why root cause and lifestyle medicine is critical to sustained weight loss!

At Blum Center our patients successfully use GLP-1 Agonists and are able to maintain weight loss  after they discontinue the medication.  Why is that? 

  • Our Functional Medicine Approach:  We look at the whole patient and do extensive testing including blood work and often gut testing. So, while we use the medications to jump start the process, we simultaneously shine the light on root cause medicine: gut health, hormone health, toxins, stress, nutrition and exercise, to name a few. 
  • Health Coaching: All our patients on GLP-1’s meet with our Health Coach Melissa Rapoport who walks patients through every step of the process and helps you create a plan for sustainable long-term changes. 

This is indeed personalized weight loss!

Will I lose all my muscle? 

This is a big fear of many patients — understandably! And, one that we take seriously. With all weight loss (even with diet alone) there is some lean muscle mass lost but there are several key ways we can ensure you maximize the weight loss coming from fat and not muscle. This can be completely avoided with proper nutrition and exercise. 

In fact we have an awesome tool – the InBody scanner – that tracks your body composition and shows us exactly what you’re losing. Are you losing visceral fat (yes!) and maintaining and maybe gaining muscle mass (yes!). Your lean muscle mass will maintain your metabolism during and after using these medications – muscle is your biggest friend in weight loss maintenance! 

Do I have to stay on this medication forever or can I use it short term? 

While these medications are completely safe to stay on long term (they are designed for that) – the vast majority of our patients are just using these for short term use. Again,we don’t think of Wegovy or Monjouro as the solution – they are just a tool — the solution is to get to the root cause of why you are “stuck” or gaining weight. 

Are there side effects?

The most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea and constipation, though they are usually short-lived and avoided by sticking to the “start low and go slow” strategy – starting at a low dose and slowly titrating up.

Less common but still on our radar – gallbladder issues (as with any rapid weight loss), thyroid concerns and pancreatitis – while rare, these can be serious and we always monitor for these. 

How do supplements fit into the plan? ? 

We will recommend a personalized supplement plan for any health issues or imbalances we discover, if needed, based on your test results.  

Ready to take the next steps in your weight loss journey? Request a Consultation

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