- Studies have shown that weight rebound occurs when you stop using semaglutide.
- Experts say the drug is not a cure, but because it does not interfere with the metabolic adaptations that occur during weight loss.
- Long-term changes in diet and activity are an important part of maintaining weight loss.
- It is also important to consult your doctor before using any weight loss medication.
Recent research published in journals
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist (GLP-1 agonist) and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to Dr. Ibiye Owei, an assistant professor at Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso. Treat diabetes and obesity or overweight.
“It works by making people feel full faster and suppressing appetite so people don’t feel hungry,” she explained. It is to delay the emptying of the stomach, as there is.”
Owei said obese people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher and experiencing weight-related complications such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, are suitable candidates for using the drug. I added that there are.
According to Kathleen Dungan, M.D., an endocrinologist in the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the use of semaglutide has several potential benefits.
“It’s one of the most effective treatments available for both conditions outside of bariatric surgery,” says Dungan. “Additionally, there is evidence that semaglutide use may reduce the risk of developing diabetes and may be particularly useful for people with prediabetes.”
Medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic may seem like a miracle to people with diabetes or obesity, but they actually work only as long as you take them.
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The positive changes seen in cardiometabolic risk factors such as blood pressure, blood lipids, HbA1c and C-reactive protein were similarly reversed.
According to the study authors, these findings reinforce the need to continue treatment to maintain the benefits of medication.
According to Dungan, weight rebound simply happens because the medication isn’t addressing the underlying problem that caused the weight gain in the first place.
Owei further explained that metabolic adaptations occur while patients are losing weight, which may contribute to weight gain at the end of medication.
She said this effect is not unique to semaglutide.
Dungan said the optimal duration of semaglutide use is unknown. However, if you stop taking the medicine, you may regain your weight, so it is important to review your lifestyle.
“Semaglutide is not a replacement for diet or exercise, but it can be a very effective treatment.”
Owei added that studies show that obesity is a chronic disease, so long-term medication is needed to prevent weight regain.
“But I always weigh the risks and benefits of using any drug when making decisions about long-term use,” she said.
The drug can have serious side effects, she noted, including pancreatitis, kidney failure, and medullary thyroid cancer.
Exercise may also help maintain weight after losing weight on semaglutide, she said, and the aforementioned athlete said:
“As we know all studies have strengths and weaknesses and most are not reproducible, but these lifestyle changes are important for both weight loss and maintenance in addition to medication use. is.”
Owei added that it’s important to check with your healthcare provider or a doctor certified in obesity management before using any weight loss medication.
“Like any chronic disease, it requires long-term management,” she concluded.
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