Are Weight Loss Drugs Right for You? Understanding the Pros, Cons, and Who They're Recommended For
Have you been considering using a weight loss drug in an attempt to lose some stubborn weight? Losing weight can be an incredibly difficult journey, and I see so many turning to new weight loss medications as a solution. That’s why I wanted to write this article to properly define what weight loss drugs are, how they work inside our bodies and address the potential side effects that are not often discussed.
Many people turn to medications like Ozempic and other weight loss drugs to try and make the process of losing weight easier, but do they really work? What are the risks of these medications, and are you able to maintain weight loss once you stop taking them?
Ozempic and other similar drugs are becoming increasingly popular, but are they really the answer? In this blog post, we'll explore the recent rampant use of weight loss drugs and their potential side effects.
What are weight loss drugs?
Weight loss drugs are pharmaceutical medications used to help people with obesity to lose weight. They are most often recommended when lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise have failed. Prescription drugs that are FDA-approved for weight loss include orlistat, phentermine-topiramate, naltrexone-bupropion, liraglutide, and semaglutide.
FDA-approved weight loss medications:
Saxenda (liraglutide)
Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
Contrave (naltrexone-bupriopion)
Xenical (orlistat)
Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide)
Qsymia (phentermine-topiramate)
It’s important to note that Ozempic and Wegovy both contain the same medication, semaglutide, but Ozempic was originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes (and has a side effect of weight loss), while Wegovy is a higher dose of semaglutide specifically prescribed for weight loss.
Who might use weight loss drugs?
Weight loss drugs in general can be very useful for people who have struggled for a long time with weight loss or feel otherwise hopeless about the amount of weight they have to lose.
Weight loss drugs may present as a much better and preferable alternative to more invasive procedures, such as bariatric surgery. For many people, the thought of undergoing a bariatric procedure such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy is daunting: the surgery can require significant recovery time and long-term side effects. Not to mention, it can be expensive.
The apparent convenience of using weight loss drugs instead of undergoing surgery is a major draw for many individuals. Additionally, some people may be more comfortable with taking medication than having an invasive medical procedure. Ultimately, this decision needs to be made on an individual basis and taking into account both the pros and cons of each option.
How do weight loss drugs work?
You may have seen a specific drug in the news headlines quite recently, due to popular trial results that were just released.
Ozempic is a drug developed by Novo Nordisk as an experimental weight loss medication. It is a once-weekly injectable diabetes medication which works by increasing the amount of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) in the body.
Weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic and its stronger dose, Wegovy, attempt to reduce hunger and cravings while promoting the body’s ability to use glucose for energy.
When you take Ozempic, you start with a once-weekly injection of 0.25mg of medication, then work your way up to the maximum dosage of 2mg/week. With Wegovy, you also start with a once-weekly injection of 0.25mg of medication, but work your way up to a 2.4mg/week maximum dosage.
Both Wegovy and Ozempic are newer drugs used for weight loss that work by slowing the digestion of food in your stomach and making you feel full for longer. It does this by reducing levels of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
GLP-1 is an appetite suppressing hormone that helps to control food intake. By increasing GLP-1 in the body, Ozempic and Wegovy can reduce appetite, helping those trying to lose weight to consume fewer calories. GLP-1 is responsible for signaling to the brain that you are full after eating, which helps regulate how much you eat.
Both of these medications also work by increasing levels of insulin which helps the body use glucose for energy. This is why it is so comparable to the types of drugs diabetics rely on.
Ozempic and Wegovy have been approved for use in the United States, Europe, Canada and Australia. In a clinical trial of obese adults who were taking Ozempic, the majority of them lost between 5-10% of their total body weight over the course of 68 weeks. While this is encouraging, further research is required to understand how these medications can translate to improvements in co-morbidities such as heart disease or diabetes.
Should you consider weight loss medication?
Making an Informed Decision: Factors to Consider Before Trying Weight Loss Drugs
As a nutritionist and health professional, I’ve worked with hundreds of people throughout my career. An overwhelming majority of my clients and past patients have struggled with obesity or excess weight. All of them have tried diets or restricting their food intake and increasing physical activity to lose weight. Many have tried extreme weight loss fads, like supplements that allege to help with fat-burning, or detox diets like the Master cleanse. Many individuals consider surgical operations such as gastric bypass, where a portion of the stomach is stapled shut to reduce the amount of food that the stomach can withstand at any point in time.
All of this to say, healthy weight maintenance and sustained weight loss are HUGE topics with my clients and audience. So many people are extremely frustrated by their lack of weight loss results when they make lifestyle changes - and rightfully so. I will always be a firm believer and proponent of examining diet, exercise, metabolism, hormones, and other lifestyle factors first prior to advising weight loss medication.
However, for many people, an extra boost in the form of a weight loss drug would be hugely beneficial and allows them to have reduced cravings, urges and desires for food which lead to overeating.
Weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy aid in weight loss by suppressing appetite and slowing down the rate of gastric emptying (meaning you feel fuller for longer). When thoughts and cravings for food are no longer on your mind 24/7, you have the mental space to make more nutrient-dense meal choices, to stop eating while you’re full, to prioritize exercise and great self-care habits.
This is how I see the beneficial application of these drugs: to support people who have struggled with weight loss, and have a lot of weight they would like to lose. I also see it being hugely beneficial for individuals with hypothyroidism and other conditions where metabolism is more sluggish.
All of this to say: I believe the choice to go on weight loss medication is personal. Regardless of that choice, I will always encourage prioritizing a foundation of healthy habits, great nutrition, and prioritizing health behaviors like sleep, stress management, exercise, and taking care of your gut health.
I expand on my thoughts about the pros and cons of Ozempic (and similar drugs) in my latest YouTube video. You can check it out here:
(I’m also breaking down why Ozempic is SO hard to get a hold of right now and why so many celebrities have had rapid weight loss…)
Now that I’ve shared my thoughts with you, it’s important for us to look at the drawbacks and side effects to consider before committing to Wegovy or Ozempic.
When it comes to weight loss drugs, side effects are an important factor to consider, and Wegovy and Ozempic are no exception.
Common Side Effects
According to the study released by Novo Nordisk, 95% of participants experienced some sort of side effect. The most common side effects included nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, fatigue, upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated and heartburn.
Black Box Warnings
The FDA has issued a Box Warning for weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy due to the risk of thyroid c-cell tumors. The Box Warning is the highest level of warning that the FDA issues, and it applies to medications that have the potential to cause serious or life-threatening harm.
Potential Tumors
Thyroid c-cell tumors occur in cells that produce a hormone called calcitonin. These tumors are rare, and they can be benign or malignant. In rare cases, they can spread outside the thyroid gland and invade nearby tissues or organs.
Impacted Thyroid
Symptoms of thyroid c-cell tumors include neck pain, swelling in the neck, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and persistent cough.
If you decide to take a weight loss drug, it is important to discuss the risks with your doctor. Your doctor will monitor you for any signs or symptoms of thyroid c-cell tumors and other side effects of these medications.
It’s also important to continue to practice healthy lifestyle habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and prioritizing at least 7 hours of sleep every night.
While these medications may claim to be effective at helping patients to shed excess pounds, its side effects should not be taken lightly. Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and constipation. In rare cases, more serious side effects may occur including severe allergic reactions, pancreatitis and kidney problems.
Overall, it’s important to remember that any medication can have potential side effects. Ozempic is no different. When making the decision to take this drug, it is important to weigh the potential risks with the potential benefits. It is always recommended to consult your doctor or healthcare professional before starting any new medication.
Are Weight Loss Drugs Worth It?
When it comes to using weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, the answer is not clear. The current evidence available shows that this drug is not without its risks and side effects.
The drug has a black box warning from the FDA, the highest level of warning, for thyroid c-cell tumor risk. This means that people taking the drug may have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer.
In addition, 95% of participants in the trial reported side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, headache, fatigue, upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated and heartburn.
Furthermore, the trial only lasted 68 weeks which is well below the 5 years needed in a weight loss study to assess whether or not it actually reduces health risks associated with obesity.
The Verdict
It’s going to be a personal decision for someone struggling with weight loss to decide if medications like Wegovy or Ozempic are worth it. As a health professional, if you’re considering taking these medications, my recommendation is to look at this as a short-term (perhaps one year) boost in your weight loss efforts, and to make sure you are focused on building a foundation of excellent nutrition and health habits along the way.
Research seems to indicate that many individuals will regain the weight they lost after going off these medications if they do not make substantial lifestyle changes along the way. This is why it’s so crucial to focus on improving your nutrition, fitness, wellness and relationship with food along the way, too.
Whether or not these drugs are worth the long-term risk for the return of weight loss now will vary greatly depending on the individual. While it may provide short-term relief in terms of weight loss, it is uncertain whether or not it can lead to long-term benefits in terms of weight-related comorbidity. However, if someone is currently at risk for heart disease, heart attack, or comorbidities as a result of other chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes, I would argue that the risks associated with weight loss drugs are worth it.
As always, it’s essential to discuss all your options with your doctor before making any decisions.
Whether or not someone chooses to pursue weight loss drugs, a more important consideration that individuals would greatly benefit from is learning the skills of how to create and plan nutritious meals and improving their relationship with food.
Once you have the foundation for those health habits and health behaviors, they will set you up for success in the long run.
Even if you are able to lose weight with a weight loss drug, you ideally wouldn’t want to be on it forever – which is where those new health habits and that knowledge of nutrition science and having a much better relationship with food comes in very handy.
I work one on one with my clients through health coaching programs specifically tailored to the individual’s needs. Each and every one of us is individual in our nutritional requirements and how our bodies thrive, so it is worth investing in better understanding your ideal nutrition plan for long term success.