Are You Considering a GLP-1 for Weight Loss?

Cover photo showing a woman holding a fat bulge at her waist to her right is a question mark with pills on blocks with the letters GLP

What are GLPs?

First it is important to understand what GLP medications are and what they do. This will help to decide if you are a candidate for this medication and if you and your medical provider believe they are appropriate for you. It is essential that people who consider using GLP-1 medications for weight loss consult with a healthcare provider. The physician can evaluate personal circumstances, weight loss goals, and current health status.

GLP-1 naturally occur in our bodies. GLP is an acronym for glucagon-like peptide 1. Our body releases this hormone from our small intestines after we eat. The GLP’s that we produce have several functions.

Provide the sensation of fullness after a meal/slowing stomach emptying
Reduce or somewhat reduce thoughts about eating and food. This has to do with satiety and not always thinking about what I am going to eat next.
Keep and improve good glucose levels

What are the GLP-1 medications?

Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon)
Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda)
Albiglutide (Tanzeum)
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)

How often you need to inject these medications varies from twice daily to once weekly, depending on the medication. The most common side effect with these medications is nausea and vomiting, which is more common when starting or increasing the dose.

Who is a candidate for medication?

GLP-1’s were initially developed and marketed in 2005 for people with type 2 diabetes for a better control of their blood sugar levels. It was quickly discovered that these medications also have the potential to help with weight loss.

Are you looking to see if you are a candidate for having a GLP-1 prescribed for weight loss? Obesity is a complex condition and effective management often requires several therapies to treat. First, to have your physician prescribe a GLP-1 for weight loss you must meet certain criteria. An example would be to qualify for Wegovy, you must meet the following FDA requirements:

A body mass index of 30 or greater (which classifies a person as obese)
Body mass index of 27 (a BMI of 25-29.9 classifies a person as overweight) with a comorbidity (weight-related complication/s), such as hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (high fat in the blood), or others that you can discuss with your physician
Are unable to lose weight after making lifestyle changes
Have a history of high and low weight change fluctuations

Body Mass Index illustration for underweight up to Class 2 and 3 Obesity with the BMI ranges listed

Do you need to make lifestyle changes? Are they the key to sustaining weight loss?

So you might be asking yourself “Do I need to make lifestyle changes, such as changing eating habits, becoming more active, or both?”

The answer is YES.

Black man eating healthy fruit bowl with a smile on his face, the graphic green check mark in the corner symbolizes saying yes to lifestyle changes

Man with IDD sitting in a wheelchair lifting weights with a spotter, the graphic green check mark in the corner symbolizes saying yes to lifestyle changes

Woman with Down Syndrome in a Yoga class stretching arms upward with other women around her, the graphic green check mark in the corner symbolizes saying yes to lifestyle changes

As with any weight-loss program, lifestyle changes are a must for long-term weight management. Many experts, including Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic agree that making healthy dietary changes and increasing your daily physical activity while taking a GLP-1 medication is ideal. This is a required combination that can lead to greater weight loss, improved health, and reduced risk of regaining weight once the medication is discontinued.

Extra weight leads to extra risk for many health issues or diseases. Making small changes to the way you eat, without giving up the foods you love increases sustainability. Increasing physical activity to 30 minutes a few days a week along with taking a GLP-1 can help weight loss.

Mayo Clinic states “weight-loss medications like GLP-1’s can help individuals lose approximately 15% of their body weight in a year.” In addition, “The Mayo Clinic Diet program has shown that responders to the program (Mayo Clinic diet program), those in the top 20% for weight loss, lose 13% of their body weight in 6 months” (1). It is important to have the tools that you need to make your journey with GLP-1’s successful.

Please note that taking a GLP-1 for weight loss is just one of the tools that can be used to get weight off and keep it off. It is always vital to check with your healthcare provider before you change your diet or activity level. Be sure you can make changes without potentially causing harm to your body.