Weight loss injections - Friend or Foe?
Friend or foe? Part 1
Weight loss injections are becoming increasingly popular for women and men to help shift unwanted stubborn weight and work by mimicking natural hormones that regulate appetite and food intake. But do they work, long term?
Before I answer, let’s take a look at the options:
Semaglutide (Wegovy) – a once-weekly injection that works by acting like a natural hormone called GLP-1, which helps you feel full and satisfied after eating. It can lead to significant weight loss in some people;
Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) – another once-weekly injection that works similarly to Semaglutide but also targets a second hormone called GIP. It's a newer medication that has shown promising results in clinical trials.
They primarily work by:
Slowing gastric emptying making you feel fuller for longer after meals,
Reducing appetite by acting on the brain to decrease hunger signals,
Some studies suggest they may slightly increase calorie burning, but more evidence is needed to confirm this.
They’re typically prescribed for people who:
Have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (obese),
Have a BMI of 27 or higher (overweight) with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.
Both have common side effects which can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, and abdominal pain, so be mindful of these if you’re thinking about starting.
Do they work? Without a doubt, they are a very powerful tool but they’re not a quick fix or magic bullet and personally, I have concerns about the type of weight that’s lost, long term. Is it fat or muscle? The difference is so important and has a huge impact in midlife, which is often overlooked. The focus tends to be solely about the numbers on the scales, and that’s it. Muscle function, exercise and how to address diet and lifestyle weaning off are often missed. Fat or muscle loss? What do you think? I’ll answer this in next week’s Blog, so keep your eyes peeled.
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Ciao for now, Ex.