Use of blockbuster anti-obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound is growing, with about 1 in 8 adults in the U.S. currently taking the medications. Just since January, more than 600,000 prescriptions have been written for Novo Nordisk’s new Wegovy pill. Early analysis suggests that more than a third of users are new to these drugs, according to Truveta, a health care data company. However, experts caution that medication alone isn’t the answer—it also requires lifestyle changes including healthy diet, exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management to reap the biggest benefits.
The Biggest Mistake
“The biggest mistake people make with GLP-1 medications is thinking the prescription is the treatment,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity medicine expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of FlyteHealth, a weight-loss treatment company. GLP-1s can spur weight loss and health benefits on their own, but effects are larger and last longer when combined with lifestyle changes. The clinical trials of anti-obesity medications like Wegovy and Zepbound included structured lifestyle programs along with the medication.
Maximizing Benefits
A study of more than 98,000 U.S. military veterans found that those using a GLP-1 and adhering to six to eight healthy habits had a 43% lower risk of serious cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack than those who didn’t use the drugs and followed three or fewer such habits. Dr. Frank Hu, a lead author and chair of the nutrition department at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, noted that lifestyle habits “can substantially amplify the benefits of modern medications.”
Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrinologist and obesity expert at Harvard Medical School, emphasizes that focus should be overall health and not just numbers on a scale. “Health is what you eat, how much you move your body, what is your blood sugar, what is your blood pressure, what is your cholesterol,” she said. The GLP-1 drugs work by targeting hormones in the gut and brain that slow digestion and target appetite and feelings of fullness. To maximize benefits and reduce side effects like nausea, vomiting, and constipation, experts recommend eating 20-30 grams of protein per meal, consuming more fiber and 8-12 cups of water daily, and aiming for 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week plus strength training twice weekly.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://us.headtopics.com/news/popular-anti-obesity-drugs-must-be-paired-with-healthy-81344195