While the cause of obesity is complicated, I firmly believe that obesity is the mother of all diseases. It leads to conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes, heart attacks, joint degradation, depression, anxiety, feeling of low self esteem and even various types of cancers. And, once you become overweight, I am sure most of have felt helpless in losing that weight. It is a daily struggles with losing 5 pounds through extreme measures only to gain 6 or 7 pounds back in a single weekend or vacation, birthday party, Christmas, holidays etc. This type of situation leads to significant stress leading to production of high levels of stress hormones making weight loss next to impossible. In fact, when a person loses weight, the body goes into a crises mode to prevent further weight loss.
Thankfully, we finally have medications in the market that have proven track record of successful and long term weight loss. At this point, I firmly believe that we can cure obesity with such medicine. In my office itself, we have patients that have been taken off almost all of their medications as a result of weight loss, not to mentions diabetics becoming un-diabetic (not sure if that is a diagnosis but their HBA1C drops into pre-diabetic or even normal levels).
How GLP-1 Agonists play a role in Medical Weight Loss
GLP-1 agonists (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide) play a central role in medical weight loss by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone to suppress appetite, increase satiety (fullness), and slow gastric emptying. By acting on brain receptors to reduce hunger and “food noise,” these medications help individuals achieve 5% to 15% body weight loss, often used alongside lifestyle changes.
- Appetite Suppression (Brain): GLP-1 receptor agonists act on the hypothalamus to decrease hunger signals and increase satiety signals.
- Increased Satiety (Stomach): They slow the rate at which the stomach empties (gastric emptying), allowing food to stay in the stomach longer, which helps you feel fuller for longer periods.
- Reduced “Food Noise”: Patients frequently report reduced cravings and less constant thinking about food.
- Blood Sugar Regulation: They stimulate insulin release and block glucagon when blood sugar is high, which helps stabilize metabolism.
Key Aspects of GLP-1s in Clinical Practice
- Significant Weight Loss: Clinical trials (like the STEP trials) show substantial, sustainable weight loss, typically 5% to 15% of total body weight, over 12 months or more.
- FDA Approval: Several, such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), are FDA-approved specifically for chronic weight management.
- Metabolic Benefits: Beyond weight loss, they can lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.
- Administration: Most are taken via a weekly, self-administered injection.
- Common Side Effects: The most common, especially when starting, are gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation.
At Golden Coast Clinic, we practice medicine to cure your conditions rather than just managing it. We approach each patient individually and design a plan of care that suits specifically you and your needs. We are eager to hear from you. Lets start you a beautiful healthy and happy journey where you are no longer concerned if a specific pair of jeans fit you well enough.
