Americans spend billions each year on weight loss and weight loss related services and products. Now new drugs are making headlines for their weight loss benefits. They are known as GLP-1 or glucagon-like peptide agonists. You know them better by their brand names that are heavily advertised: Ozempic, Rybelsus and Trulicity to name a few.
Ozempic is the best-known of the drugs or semaglutide as it's called generically. Scientists developed it as a Type 2 diabetes drug that resulted in weight loss for many patients. Its manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, then developed Wegovy-which is specifically approved for weight loss. Both of those drugs are delivered by injection. A third formulation, Rybelsus is a pill form.
These medications have taken the market by storm. Waitlists for the medications started forming last summer.
In case you missed it, on our show Feb. 15, we revisited the topic of these drugs and their meteoric rise in popularity.
Dr. Reena Bose of the Cleveland Clinic joined us again for the discussion. She told host Jenny Hamel that the GLP-1 drugs have made a difference in spurring weight loss for her patients and validating their struggle.
“It's really, really important that we make the patients aware that obesity is not a choice. Many of them come in feeling like it's their fault that they have gained so much weight. And I always validate that, it’s not their fault. It is a disease. And now we actually have fantastic medications out there to help them with their disease," said Dr. Bose.
She says some of her patients have achieved a weight loss of 30% to 40% of their body weight using the medications. But, Dr. Bose says that the medications are just one element in a multi-faceted approach for her patients. Her patients also work with dietitians, exercise physiologists, sleep experts and stress management.
“So, all of this allows them to have meaningful weight loss. And the goal is this prevention of weight regain. So, these medications have made it very effective for patients to achieve their goals,” said Dr. Bose.
Brigid, a patient of Dr. Bose, also joined the conversation. She discussed how she and her husband have been successful in losing 200 pounds collectively after being prescribed Mounjaro. She told host Jenny Hamel her experience with the medication has been life changing. “Sometimes you don't even realize how bad it has gotten until you start to feel better.”
Brigid of Bay Village says that she’s had some success on other programs such as Weight Watchers. But she says, even when she lost weight on those programs she was still always thinking about food. Mounjaro she says has created a different experience for her.
“On these medications, that food noise has really quieted and I'm able to just eat and eat like a reasonable amount. My portions have gone way down and I'm able to just not eat as much. …. I'm trying to make better choices. And since the food noise is much quieter in my head, it's much easier to make those choices.”
She says her success has brought a variety of reactions from people, some positive, others critical who question whether she will be able to maintain her results without the medication. “And, you know, my answer to that is that we'll see.”
The conversation also touched on costs and accessibility of the medications as well as potential side effects.
Guests:
- Stephanie Metzger Lawrence, Ideastream Public Media
- Reena Bose, M.D., Dept of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The Cleveland Clinic
