whether they are using weekly shots or daily pills, More Americans than ever are turning to anti-obesity drugs to lose weight promote health.
About 1 in 8 American adults say they are taking a GLP-1 drug, according to recent survey By health research group KFF.
More than 600,000 prescriptions have been written for Novo Nordisk’s new Wegovi pill since January, the company said. According to health care data company Truveta, preliminary analysis shows that more than a third of users are new to the drug.
But medicine alone is not the solution, experts caution. Lifestyle changes – healthy diet, exercise, adequate sleep and stress management – are also needed to get the greatest benefit from drugs called GLP-1s.
“The biggest mistake people make with GLP-1 medications is thinking that the prescription is the cure,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity medicine specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the weight-loss treatment company FlyteHealth.
GLP-1 may promote weight loss and health benefits on its own, but when the drugs are combined with lifestyle changes the effects are larger and last longer, a recent review reported. nearly three dozen studies found.
Here’s what experts say you should know about GLP-1 medications and healthy habits:
It’s not all about the weight
Obesity is a major cause of chronic diseases, including conditions like heart disease and diabetes. But Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrinologist and obesity expert at Harvard Medical School, said the focus should be on overall health, not just the numbers on the scale.
“Health is what you eat, how much you move your body, what your blood sugar is, what your blood pressure is, what your cholesterol is,” she said. “All those things are really important.”
GLP-1 drugs work by targeting hormones in the gut and brain that slow digestion and feelings of hunger and satiety. This effect “levels the playing field,” making it easier to adopt healthy habits like eating less and moving more, Saunders said.
“Social media and advertising sometimes create the impression that these medications are quick fixes, but obesity is a complex, chronic, progressive disease” that requires ongoing medical management, he said.
What does the research show about GLP-1s and lifestyle changes?
Clinical trials of anti-obesity drugs like Wegovi and Zepbound included the drug itself as well as structured lifestyle programs, which are advised with every new prescription.
This not only results in significant weight loss, but also improves health indicators.
A february study A study of more than 98,000 US military veterans found that those who used GLP-1 and followed six to eight healthy habits had a 43% lower risk of serious cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack compared with those who did not use the drug and followed three or fewer such habits.
Lifestyle habits “can substantially enhance the benefits of modern medicines,” said Dr. Frank Hu, lead author and chair of the department of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Which changes are most important?
To maximize the benefits of GLP-1 and minimize potential side effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and muscle loss, Dushay and other experts offer specific advice.
Maintain muscle by eating 20 grams to 30 grams of protein per meal, which may include fish, poultry, yogurt and beans. Eat more fiber and drink more water – up to 8 to 12 cups a day. If you have heartburn or nausea, avoid fried food and spicy food, and do not lie down after meals.
Aim for 150 minutes a week or, ideally, about an hour a day of aerobic exercise. Incorporate 30 minutes of strength training, such as lifting weights or using resistance bands, two or three times a week.
Get enough sleep – seven to nine hours a day for a healthy adult. Take steps to reduce mental and emotional stress.
Finally, check in with a health care provider about your progress. Experts said GLP-1 drugs may have rare but serious side effects.
“Somebody really needs to keep track of: What’s the pace of your weight loss? What are your side effects? And not just mail you a prescription every month,” Dushay said.
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