Hidden Costs Of Weight Loss Drugs – the Pros are Few; the Cons are Many
In the ever-evolving world of weight loss solutions, GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, are all the rage. Promoted for their ability to suppress appetite and aid in weight loss, these FDA-approved injectables have become a go-to for people seeking a quick fix. But, once someone stops taking these pricey drugs, the magic ends.
As a seasoned wellness dietitian nutritionist, I've delved deep into the realm of GLP-1 drugs and discovered concerns that go beyond the surface-level benefits. It's time to consider another way to lose body fat without these drugs, or at least ways to make these drugs more sustainable and health-promoting.
What are GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs?
Both Ozempic and Wegovy are FDA-approved injectable drugs containing the active ingredient semaglutide. Ozempic is intended to treat type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy is approved for weight loss.
Mounjaro, on the o ther hand, is made with the active ingredient tirzepatide and approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. In November of 2023, tirzepatide was FDA-approved for weight loss under the brand Zepbound.
Understanding GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: How They Work
Semaglutide mimics a protein in your body called GLP-1, which activates GLP-1 receptors in your body to increase the production of insulin. This hormone helps transport glucose into your cells, where it's used for energy. Semaglutide also stimulates a pathway in your brain that controls your hunger cues and slows digestion to make you feel satisfied and less hungry.
Tirzepatide drugs work similarly to semaglutide drugs but also target an additional receptor, GIP, that helps you feel full and reduces appetite by slowing the food through the digestive tract.
Pros & Cons of GLP-1 Drugs
In my work as a wellness dietitian nutritionist, I’ve worked closely with hundreds of clients battling excess fat weight and high blood sugar levels. So, as you can imagine, I've been closely following the GLP-1 drug trend. The benefits are popular and effective for weight loss. But there is a cost, and I'm not just referring to the monetary cost.
Pros:
These drugs act to suppress appetite and hunger cues, slow the rate at which the stomach empties to increase the sensation of being full, and decrease cravings so users are less likely to overeat their favorite foods.
Cons:
These benefits sound impressive, but there are some significant cons to consider. The negative side effects of these drugs, ranging from nausea and diarrhea to severe constipation, are common and poorly understood in the long term. Moreover, the financial burden is substantial, with prices reaching up to $1,300 for a 28-day supply. Insurance coverage is waning, leaving users to foot the hefty bill.
Here’s a deeper dive into some of those cons:
The Dangers of Disinterest in Eating and a Standard American Diet. A disinterest in eating can lead to a calorie deficit that’s far too extreme for healthy weight loss. Too few calories often go hand in hand with a lack of nutrient-dense food, leading to health issues later. People taking these medications often follow a standard American Diet (SAD) and don’t eat enough whole foods packed with nutrition. Allow me to emphasize that it’s critical to fuel our bodies with nutrients and plant chemicals found in whole foods rather than overly processed foods. So, while taking these drugs, one’s diet should include nutrient-dense whole foods like nuts, produce and legumes.
Bone Density Issues for Women. Not eating enough calcium-rich and magnesium-rich foods can result in women having bone density issues as they age.
Unbalanced Gut Microbiome. The helpful microbes in the gut need to be nourished with enough fiber for a healthy immune system, keeping digestion running smoothly and even supporting one's mental health.
Weakened Immune System. The immune system needs protein to build antibodies and requires an array of nutrients to keep immune defenses running correctly. Otherwise, it is less effective at preventing disease and healing from sickness.
Muscle Loss. An extreme calorie deficit often leads to an excessive amount of muscle loss, decreasing strength and mobility as one ages. To protect lean tissue, one needs to eat enough calories (since the body’s first priority is energy to function) and enough protein spread throughout the day to support the body’s need for protein. Those taking these GPL-1 drugs are typically seeing a 40% loss in muscle mass.
Malnutrition. If someone takes these medications and skips too many meals or snacks, they can become malnourished due to a lack of nutrient-dense calories.
Encourage Poor Diet. These drugs make it easier to continue eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) of overly processed foods and still lose weight. Therefore, those taking these drugs have diminished incentive to switch to healthier eating (and exercising) patterns.
The Alarming Aftermath: Weight Regain and Loss of Muscle Mass. When a user stops taking these pricey weight loss drugs, the benefits end, and the weight comes back unless healthier habits are adopted. Weight rebounds, and worse, it tends to be fat weight rather than replenishing the muscle mass that was lost while on the weight loss drugs. Consequently, a higher percentage of fat with less muscle to burn calories results in a slower metabolism and reduced strength.
Potential Benefits of Weight Loss
It’s no secret that, in many circumstances, there are some serious benefits to weight loss. Losing even 2.5% of one's body weight can improve prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, triglyceride blood levels, and PSOS. Losing 5% to 10% of body weight also improves good HDL cholesterol, knee pain, fatty liver disease, quality of life, depression, and health care costs.
This high-benefit weight loss of 5% to 10% body weight is absolutely achievable through a quality lifestyle wellness program.
To compare, Ozempic and Wegovy drugs produce an average weight loss of 10 - 16% of body weight. Tirzepatide-based injectable drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound produce about a 5% greater weight loss with an average weight loss of 20.9%.
How a strategic lifestyle plan compares to GLP-1 Drugs
The research shows time and time again, eating plenty of whole foods can have similar effects to these drugs.
Eating a strategically planned Mediterranean whole-food diet can absolutely reduce cravings dramatically and keep people full longer and more satiated, even if it’s not to the same extent as GLP-1 drugs. Fiber-filled whole foods are a powerful way to activate your GLP-1 receptors, which improves blood sugar levels and controls hunger cues. This helps you lose fat weight and prevent obesity using the same bodily processes that GLP-1 drugs do.
NIH's researchers found a causal relationship between eating whole foods and ultra-processed foods in 2019. The whole foods group experienced fewer cravings and ate an average of 500 calories less than the ultra-processed group. Consequently, the whole foods group lost weight, ate slower, and experienced better sleep. They saw all these benefits within just a two week experimental period. When those same whole food participants switched to eating an ultra-processed diet, they gained two pounds, ate faster, and ate about 500 calories more a day.
The 12 Fixes to Healthy Plan: A Holistic Alternative
Imagine a non-diet wellness approach, based on a Mediterranean whole-food lifestyle, that incorporates food timing, gut health, protein research, fitness, sleep, eating ergonomics, and mindfulness all in one program.
A program with a proven record of reducing cravings more significantly than most “diets” and reducing dangerous fat around the middle, as well as improving strength and decreasing the risk of chronic diseases. Plus, holistic lifestyle changes reduce your risk of disease beyond just a reduced risk of losing weight.
All of this perfectly describes the 12 Fixes to Healthy Plan (12-Fix Plan) used to promote fat loss and to prevent and reverse many chronic diseases that plague us today. This includes type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Weight loss from this program may not be as fast and intense as it is from GLP drugs, but the healthfulness, cost, and sustainability benefits far outweigh the difference. It leads to long-term health and happiness and is much more sustainable for your body and your wallet.
Real-World Testimonials Speak Volumes
I hear about these benefits from my 12-Fix Challenge Program participants daily. And, yes, they lose inches around their middle even before the number on their scale drops, which indicates that they are losing fat weight rather than muscle weight. Muscle mass is too valuable to lose - your metabolism, health, mobility and strength depend on it as you age.
strategic Lifestyle Plan Wins
The 12 Fixes to Healthy Challenge Program takes a non-diet approach to wellness in a challenge format that is based on a Mediterranean whole-food lifestyle, smart food timing, gut health, protein research, fitness, sleep, eating ergonomics, and mindfulness. The 12 Fixes are introduced one at a time so people have time to focus on finding enjoyable ways to make the fixes work in their lives, resulting in real, sustainable change. Plus, this 12-Fix Plan recommends following the 12 Fixes 80% of the time, rather than 100% of the time, to offer some leeway and flexibility while still resulting in inches lost and improved health.
And, even if one chooses to use a weight loss drug, following the 12-Fix plan will help them consume the nutrition and habits they need for overall healthier results. Following this plan while on a weight loss drug will also help counter some of the negative side effects. Then, if and when they no longer take the drug, they are still set up for success.
Get started today
12 Fixes to Healthy works for individuals, businesses, groups and more. Follow these links to learn more!
Questions?
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Feel free to reach out if you want to learn more about the 12 Fix Challenge Program.
Judes Scharman Draughon, MS, RDN, LDN, also known as “The 12 Fix Dietitian,” inspires businesses, organizations, and groups to adopt healthier lifestyles with her signature 12-Fix Challenge Program. She is the author of 12 Fixes to Healthy: A Wellness Plan for Life and Living 12 Fixes to Healthy. Judes is also behind the strategically-designed 12 Fixes app. She is a foodie at heart and enjoys creating delicious but easy recipes. She has four adult children and resides in North Carolina with her husband.
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