Weight Loss Medications: Popularity and Concerns

LYNCHBURG, Va. — A treatment initially designed for type 2 diabetes is now one of the most sought-after weight loss solutions in the U.S.

Medications like Wegovy and Ozempic are advertised for quick weight loss and living healthier, but doctors point out that sustaining these results involves more than just a regular injection.

Amy Snead has been using a GLP-1 medication for two years. Walking to her neighbor’s house used to leave her breathless.

Now, she walks five miles several times a week around her home in Pittsylvania County.

She’s among millions of Americans relying on GLP-1 drugs for weight management.

“I was always the shorter and bigger one,” she shared, admitting to a lifelong struggle with her weight, trying everything from traditional diets to keto.

“It was absolutely miserable,” she recalled. “I felt weak, deprived, and at times, sick.”

Like many, the weight would inevitably creep back on.

“You feel good about yourself one minute, and then just a couple of months later, the weight returns,” Amy noted.

Approximately two years ago, she learned she was pre-diabetic and her doctor suggested a GLP-1 medication. Now, with weekly injections, she thinks about food quite differently.

“Your food noise stops,” she said.

So far, she’s shed 126 pounds.

GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide-1, is a natural hormone regulating blood sugar and appetite by slowing stomach emptying, which helps people feel full longer.

However, this hormone can sometimes malfunction in individuals.

“People with obesity struggle because their stomachs don’t slow down as they should,” explained Dr. Michael Jones, a specialist in obesity and cardiometabolic health in Lynchburg.

These medications have been prescribed for diabetes for over two decades but are now gaining traction for weight loss.

“Patients find they simply can’t eat as much as before,” Jones pointed out, emphasizing that obesity isn’t solely about weight but how body fat is distributed, particularly visceral fat around organs.

For some, relying only on diet and exercise isn’t sufficient.

“What we’ve been doing in diet culture is like giving someone a cough suppressant for pneumonia,” he remarked.

Cindy Capps, who has been on a GLP-1 drug for four years, has lost 85 pounds.

“I remember being at the pediatrician’s office and being told I needed to lose weight, even as a child,” she recalled.

She discovered these medications while on vacation after a friend mentioned them and promptly started her research.

Cindy has successfully lost 85 pounds so far.

Yet, experts have some concerns about the long-term effects of these drugs. Side effects can include nausea and constipation, and there are more severe risks like pancreatitis and gallbladder issues.

Another potential issue is muscle loss. Since GLP-1 medications suppress appetite, patients may inadvertently consume less protein, which is crucial for muscle maintenance. Some studies indicate that patients who don’t engage in physical activity, especially resistance training, could lose muscle alongside fat.

Research from the University of Virginia suggests many patients are not adhering to recommendations for muscle conservation while losing weight.

“It’s advisable for individuals to aim for 150 minutes of activity a week,” said Dr. Sid Angadi, an associate professor at UVA.

He highlighted that there are still many unknowns regarding the long-term effects, given that weight-loss use is fairly new.

“Currently, we lack trials that confirm how to completely prevent muscle loss,” Angadi stated.

When patients stop using the drugs, weight often returns, but not necessarily muscle.

“Preliminary evidence suggests that most of the weight regained is fat,” noted Dr. Zhenqi Liu, an endocrinologist at UVA.

Despite such concerns, individuals like Amy and Cindy aren’t considering stopping their medications.

“I just want to be healthy for my family,” Cindy expressed.

Amy mentioned that the changes in her appearance were so significant that her son didn’t recognize her at first when he saw her from behind in a store.

“He said, ‘Mom, I didn’t even know it was you,’” she recounted.

Doctors advise caution when sourcing these medications. Brand-name drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro are FDA-approved and prescribed, while some online vendors offer compounded versions that lack FDA approval and may differ in quality and safety.

Cost is also a factor, with patients possibly paying under a few hundred dollars a month with insurance; without it, the medications can go up to $1,400 each month.