5 mistakes when taking anti-obesity drugs: how not to lose results after GLP-1

How can we avoid the most common mistakes when using medications GLP-1 groups, to get guaranteed and long-term results.

Today there is no longer any doubt that injectable drugs for obesity have radically changed the approach to body weight control. From semaglutide And liraglutidewhich became known as Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza And Saxendaup to Tirzepatideused as Mounjaroand also Zepboundwhich is not yet available in Greece, the use of injectable drugs to treat diabetes mellitus type II And obesity has helped thousands of people who have had trouble controlling their appetite, eating and weight for years feel like “finally something really works.”

Leaving aside the discussion of who should or should not take them, we regularly see many errors in their use. As a result, many patients experience significant or even complete weight regain after stopping therapy. Below we summarize the most common mistakes and describe what you can do to recognize and avoid them in time.

1. We increase the dose too quickly

It is very common to see people increasing their dose of medications. GLP-1 too quickly, focusing on general application patterns from the instructions, and not on your own dynamics and portability. It is important to remember that weight loss averages are based on statistics and Not are an individualized approach. In contrast, gradually and slowly increasing the dose in the long term promotes better results and maintains sensitivity to the drug itself.

There are patients who respond well to low doses for several months or to what is called microdosingthat is, dosages lower than standard. However, they increase the dose without exhausting these possibilities, simply because they follow typical patterns. This often leads to poor digestion, excessive loss of appetite, difficulty consuming enough protein, and earlier development of drug resistance.

Together with the doctor who prescribed and administers the therapy, before increasing the dose, it is necessary to assess the rate of weight loss, general health, energy level, the presence or absence of side effects, how adequately the patient eats, and whether he moves and exercises enough. Dose increases should only occur when truly necessary.

2. We don’t protect our muscle mass.

Perhaps the most serious and, fortunately, well-known problem with injectable anti-obesity drugs—and one of the key arguments against their use—is loss of muscle mass.

Preparations in practice GLP-1 reduce the feeling of hunger, slow down gastric emptying and, as a result, reduce the amount of food consumed, and therefore calories and nutrients. If we don’t prioritize protein and incorporate regular strength training into our daily lives, it makes sense that rapid weight loss will result in the loss of not only fat tissue, but muscle tissue as well.

Meanwhile, muscle tissue affects our glycemic controlappetite, metabolism, coordination, strength and overall promotes healthy longevity. Having lost a significant amount of muscle volume, we will experience a slower metabolism in the weight maintenance phase, increased insulin resistance and an easier return of lost pounds.

On the contrary, when using drugs GLP-1 in the correct dosage, combined with adequate intake of protein and other nutrients and parallel strength training, the body will tend to protect muscle tissue, primarily using fat reserves.

3. We take medications without medical supervision

Injectables are not supplements or meal replacements. This is exactly medicinesand, like any other medicine, they require medical, and in this case also nutritional supervision.

This means that not only the numbers on the scales must be under control, but also:

• the appearance and severity of side effects,
• volume and quality of nutrients consumed,
• various biochemical indicators,
• general course of therapy and clinical picture of the patient.

All this requires professional supportrather than general advice from friends or social networks.

4. We do not do gradual dose reduction or drug withdrawal.

Just as increasing your dose too quickly creates problems, so does stopping abruptly. Many people stop therapy suddenly: some because they reached the desired weight, some because of side effects, some because of the high cost of treatment. Result? A sudden return of appetite, which is often felt even stronger than before the start of therapy. In a large percentage of cases, this leads to weight gain again.

Gradual dose reduction (the same tapering) acts as a “soft landing”, allowing the body to adapt, reduce the risk of binge eating episodes and strengthen new eating habits. There are many withdrawal protocols with a gradual reduction and increase in the interval between injections. In cases of long-term and severe obesity, a small chronic maintenance dose may be necessary.

5. We see drugs as a solution, not a window of opportunity.

The most common mistake is looking at medications GLP-1 as a stand-alone and definitive solution, rather than what they essentially are: a really powerful tool that helps us lose weight, but doesn’t do all the work for us.

The drug gives us a unique opportunity:

• improve your relationship with food,
• choose products more systematically and consciously,
• build healthier habits,
• reduce the so-calledfood noise– obsessive thoughts about food and constant impulses to snack.

However, the drug will not teach us:

• eat healthy and balanced,
• manage stress,
• distinguish physiological hunger from emotional hunger,
• plan your meals and daily routine.

Injectable drugs cannot “fix” our lifestyle, but they can make the process of changing it is much easier. We will see even more drugs in this class in the coming years. The first tablet forms have already appeared, and data on dosages and long-term use will certainly be expanded.

For our part, we must learn to look at these medicines as tooland not as a ready-made solution. Only in this case the results will be both reliable and long-term.

Authors

Στέλιος Πανταζής, MD

Stylios Pantazis was born in Athens in 1975. He graduated with honors from the 3rd Faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Prague (Czech Republic) and completed his residency at the Internal Medicine Department of Patision General Hospital. He later continued his career in his own clinic Metabolic Lab.

He is a member Institute of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine and completed a specialization in medical nutrition and metabolic disorders. Over the past decade, he has been treating patients with metabolic disorders and diseases associated with obesity, gastrointestinal pathologies, and hormonal disorders. In addition, he has degrees MSc in Obesity and Weight, MSc in Psychology and has since 2012 qualified in anti-aging medicine from American Board of Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine.

Αλεξάνδρα Τσεσμελή

Alexandra Tsesmeli studied Communication and Media at the University of Athens and the University of Warwick. She worked in communications and marketing for about ten years before deciding to change careers and pursue an education in clinical nutrition.

She got her degree MSc in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen Medical School and works at Metabolic Lab. Her main professional interests include nutrition for the prevention and management of conditions on the metabolic syndrome spectrum, hormonal disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and eating behavior issues.

Published in Greek in the publication lifo.gr

Source link