Weight Loss Drugs May Also Provide Other Health Benefits

Could we get to a point where even fit people start taking anti-obesity drugs? According to this article in Nature, it’s too early to say, but maybe.

”Clinical-trial data suggest that semaglutide, sold under the name Wegovy, slashes risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular incidents.”

I keep reading headlines like this, and wonder, can weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic cure all that ails us? Should we start taking these drugs even if you only have a few pounds to lose?

This is just a preliminary study, but it could change the practice of preventative cardiology. Goodbye statins?

Researchers point to the fact that there’s evidence the drugs that mimic GLP-1 can improve fatty-acid metabolism and reduce inflammation:

“This is what’s so fascinating about these drugs. They work on the brain, the pancreas, the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal tract … There’s more to them than simply weight loss,” says Martha Gulati, director of preventive cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

Right now, according the Mayo Clinic, to qualify for anti-obesity drugs, you generally need a BMI of 30+ or 27+ with weight-related conditions like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.

Honestly, for me, no health benefits are worth the possible side effects of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Gut problems are no fun. Even the smallest chance of stomach issues would make me turn down the stuff, no matter what medical miracles it boasts.

Have People Stopped Working Out as a Result of Weight Loss Drugs?

Are people really throwing up at gyms? Maybe, but the real problem seems to be a decline in membership.

As emphasized in this article, diet and exercise go hand in hand. Losing weight isn’t the only reason to work out:

“Another problem is that Ozempic might trick you into thinking that your only goal should be to lose weight. While that might be your main goal for working out, it’s not the only benefit. There are many studies that highlight the mental benefits of working out, both for promoting brain growth and regulating hormones.”

Building muscle is also supposed to help prevent injuries. Plus, I can’t imagine a society where all we do is take a drug to shed pounds. What happened to long power walks with a friend? Or turning on your Peloton in the morning and pedaling to the music while the instructor yells at you.

I feel like Wegovy and Ozempic have their place for certain people who need to lose weight, of course. I just worry that these medications will take the place of exercise and the social interaction that goes along with it.

This Reddit thread addresses how weight loss drugs have changed the way we view obesity. At least now, people realize it is not simply a lack of will power:

“I think the big take away from these drugs is that they reveal that obesity isn’t a moral failing, or someone is just lazy or greedy or gluttonous. Rather, obesity is a malfunction in a complex system of hormones and chemical reactions within the body. That is huge! We don’t need to somehow be stronger or more disciplined and feel shame about the lack of these things, we need healthcare. Should diabetics feel shame for not having a more disciplined pancreas or cellular receptors? Should epileptics feels shame that their brains need anti-seizure medications? Or tell a depressed person just try being happy?”

The Take Away

I feel like weight loss drugs really are life changing for some people. Maybe Wegovy will cure a whole host of ailments in the future. But for now, I think we can agree, the decision as to whether or not you should take the medication should remain between you and your doctor.