JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In several recent reports of our weekly Healthier Tomorrow segment, News4JAX shared stories of people who went through with weight loss surgery.
But there are many others who opt to take GLP-1 Agonists instead.
“When these medications came on the market, I think they have been a lifeline to our patients because it gives us another option,” Dr. Husain Abbas said, who is a bariatric general surgeon at HCA Florida Memorial Hospital.
Abbas shared some of the benefits and risks of weight loss drugs, along with what people should consider before committing to the injections.
You have probably seen some of the popular brand names, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.
They are injectable weight loss drugs that Dr. Abbas said can be used for patients seeking improved quality of life.
“[Many people] have actually tried many methods,” Abbas said about people attempting to lose weight. “I think, unfortunately a lot of times what happens is people are either put down or kept being told the same thing that ‘if you just exercise more and eat less, then you will lose the weight.’”
“We are still learning,” he said. “Do we need to do it once a week because that is the recommendation. That’s the FDA recommendation [for the] medication as a one weekly dosage for GLP-1.”
Abbas even added that it could mean giving lower doses.
Several health experts and medical professionals say there can be some benefits to GLP-1 Agonists, including weight management, as the medication increases the feelings of fullness and slows down digestion. Heart protection and diabetes control are considered other advantages.
Dr. Abbas emphasizes the need to exercise, specifically lifting weights and resistance training.
“The biggest challenge is when you lose so much weight, you lose a lot of your lean mass,’ he said. ”A lot of your muscle mass decreases."
Some of the side effects can include nausea, vomiting, bloating and abdominal pain.
People should want to make sure they are getting their medication from a reputable medical professional and have them closely monitor any blood work. Those on medication should carefully follow instructions for their weekly injections.
“While you may not actually see the effects of the abnormalities in your electrolytes, it is extremely important that somebody looks at those and actually ensures,” Abbas said. “For example, that you do not have low potassium that can cause heart issues, your sodium is appropriate, your chloride are appropriate.”
Abbas says some people may need a combination of surgery and medication. Others would be better served with weight loss surgery first while some may be served better by just being on the medication, and seeing how their body responds to it.