Over the past year, social media has exploded with information (and misinformation) about anti-obesity medications. As Obesity Medicine Specialists, we have been using these medications for many, many years – and we know a lot about them. Take some time to learn about them – not from a social media influencer, but from a clinical team with advanced training in using them!
GLP-1 Medications are not Cures
Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) isn’t a cure for obesity. Yes, most people who take them experience some weight loss, but the average effectiveness is 15% weight loss – over the course of more than a year. Don’t get me wrong – 15% is clinically significant (and I would jump up and down if all of my patients […]
Reality vs Hype
If we put every teenager on Accutane as soon as they got their first pimple, we would likely see a dramatic reduction in acne. However, we don’t do that. We use step therapy. I love these meds when used in the right way, but deploying them for a lifetime for everyone with excess weight is […]
What the End of Compounded GLP-1s Means
The Storm is Shifting If you’ve been paying attention to the headlines (or your inbox), you’ve probably heard: the days of compounded GLP-1 medications are coming to an end. For a lot of people, this is going to feel abrupt—maybe even a little scary. But for our patients? This news changes very little. That’s because, […]
The Five C’s of Obesity Medicine
With all of the hype in the media the past year about the GLP-1 medications, it’s not surprising that everyone wants a prescription for one of them. Although it seems like a no-brainer (who wouldn’t want to lose weight by simply injecting themselves with medication once a week), there is actually a lot of thought […]
Realistic Expectations:
You’ve likely heard people bragging about triple-digit weight loss with GLP-1 agonists. Although there are a few hyper-responders out there, they are the outliers. As much as we all want to be like them, the reality is that most of us are going to fall in the “average” range when taking these medications. Although “average” […]
8 Reasons Why:
If you’re taking GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) to help manage your weight, you must let your clinical team know. Here’s why it’s crucial to keep them in the loop: Avoiding Medication Mix-Ups: These meds can interact with other drugs you might be taking. If your healthcare team doesn’t know you’re on […]