Understanding Weight Loss Medications: A New Chapter in Your Health Journey

In this article:

• Medical experts have recognized obesity as a chronic biological disease for more than a decade. 
• Weight loss medications are a tool for weight loss. They can help reduce hunger and increase satiety to support reduced calorie consumption. 
• Medications can help quiet food noise and cravings so it’s easier to establish healthy lifestyle habits for weight management. 
• Healthcare providers consider your body mass index (BMI), medical history, metabolic health, weight-related comorbidities, and individual factors when considering whether to prescribe weight loss medications and which one to prescribe. 
• The American Diabetes Association (ADA) views GLP-1 medications as lifelong tools for weight and other chronic disease management.
• It’s crucial to pair medications with healthy habits to manage weight and health, and to reduce side effects.  
• Recognizing weight loss medication as a proactive, science-based choice for long-term health rather than a "shortcut" can help reduce stigma around it. 
• Lark is available 24/7 to support your health and weight loss goals with or without GLP-1 medications so you can establish healthy habits for lifelong change. 

https://www.lark.com/resources/10-things-to-know-about-weight-loss-medications

If you’ve been struggling to lose weight through diet and exercise, you may already know something that the scientific community is finally recognizing: that weight loss is about more than a matter of willpower. Instead, a complex set of physiological factors interact to determine your weight. 

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The basic rule of calorie balance still holds; to lose weight, “calories in” must be less than “calories out.” But now, researchers have developed weight loss medications that affect how brain chemistry, gut, and hunger and satiety hormones impact your choices. We covered basic information on weight loss medications here. 

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In this article, we’ll talk about how weight loss medications may be part of a long-term overall strategy for weight loss and health, and how to support your own physical and mental health while you’re on them. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you are trying to lose weight or you are considering weight loss medications. 

A Change in Perspective: Using Medication as a “Tool,” Not a “Cure”

Obesity rates in the U.S. started climbing noticeably before 1980. By 2000, the national average was over 30% compared to 13% in 1970. Many blamed obesity on lack of willpower and the rise of ultra-processed foods, reduced physical activity, and inexpensive high-calorie foods. A shift began to happen when the American Medical Association (AMA) recognized obesity as a chronic disease in 2013.

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The search for weight loss medications has been going on for decades, but options were typically harmful for long-term use or not very effective. However, GLP-1 medications appear to be relatively safe and effective, leading to weight loss of 5-15% for many patients. 

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The way GLP-1 medications work is by supporting your body’s natural mechanisms for regulating hunger and food intake. These medications can do the following. 

• Increase fullness so you’re not as hungry. 
• Slow stomach emptying, so you stay full for longer after a meal.
• Increase secretion of the hormone insulin to help lower blood sugar.
• Affect your brain so satiety, or a feeling of fullness, increases.
• Reduce secretion of the hormone glucagon to reduce your drive to seek sugar or food.

They may also reduce cravings and associated “food noise” to allow patients to focus on other parts of their lives instead of always thinking about food.

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Weight loss medications can support weight management efforts, but it’s still up to you to select nutrient-dense foods, use portion control, and be physically active according to your healthcare provider’s guidelines. 

Talking to a Doctor About Weight Loss Medications

Are you considering asking your doctor about the new GLP-1 weight loss medications? Here’s what your healthcare provider might ask or investigate when considering whether you should use them or which one to prescribe for you.

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Your BMI. Your body mass index, or BMI, compares your weight and height. You’re more likely to go on GLP-1 medications if your BMI is higher.

• A normal-weight BMI is 18.5-24.9
• An overweight BMI is 25-29.9
• An obese BMI is 30 or more

Obesity-related comorbidities. Do you have any health conditions that are caused by obesity? High cholesterol, high blood pressure, prediabetes or diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), sleep apnea, and arthritis are possible examples. 

Medical screening. Do you have any conditions or a family history of any conditions that would mean you’re not a good candidate for a GLP-1 or other weight loss medication? For example, a family history of thyroid cancer may mean you’re not a good candidate. 

Your individual needs. A GLP-1 medication may be the best for someone who has excessive hunger and insulin resistance, but a person who has emotional eating patterns may be prescribed Contrave, a combination of bupropion and naltrexone.

Realistic Expectations for Weight Loss and Plateaus

It’s a good idea to understand what to expect in terms of rate of weight loss, how much you’ll lose, and whether you’ll plateau. You should also learn about how dosing works and how long you might continue using your GLP-1 medication. 

Titration Phase: Starting Low and Slow

Your healthcare provider is likely to prescribe a low dose when you first start using a GLP-1 medication. The goal is to minimize side effects like nausea and constipation, and to let your body get used to the medication. If you tolerate the medication well, your provider may have you increase the dose over several months until you reach the full dose. 

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If the medication is working for you and you’re following your prescribed diet plan, you’re likely to lose weight during the titration phase even though the dose isn’t yet maximized. 

Maintenance Phase - Long-Term

The “maintenance” phase refers to the dose of medication, not your weight loss. During this time, your dose remains high. You may continue losing weight as long as the medication is working and you continue to follow the recommended diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. 

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Organizations like the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and World Health Organization (WHO) currently recommend that you stay on GLP-1 medications for life, even if you hit your weight loss goals. They view obesity as a chronic disease that can have a relapse without medication. In addition, clinical trials have suggested that it’s more likely that you’ll return to old eating habits if you go off the medication, and heart health risks may rise. You and your provider may view GLP-1 medications as a tool for life. 

A Supportive Lifestyle for Success on Weight Loss Medications

It’s crucial to take your medications properly to get the most out of them. Review your instructions whether you’re on an injectable GLP-1 or an oral medication that may or may not require fasting when you take it. 

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It’s also important to minimize side effects for health and effectiveness. Here are some tips. 

• Support muscle mass. Rapid weight loss may feel good, but it can lead to loss of muscle mass and a decrease in metabolism. To reduce this, add in muscle-strengthening activities according to your provider’s instructions, and consume plenty of lean protein.
• Support digestion. Weight loss medications often slow down digestion, leading to constipation. To counteract these effects, drink plenty of water and choose high-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans. In addition, stay physically active to promote digestive regularity. 
• Support minimization of side effects. Eat slowly, take smaller portions, and stay away from fatty foods to reduce side effects like nausea and stomach discomfort. 
• Support data-driven adjustments. To learn more about what works for you as an individual, track what you eat and drink, your physical activity, your weight, and how you feel, including any side effects. These insights can help you and your provider decide what works best for you and if you need to make any adjustments. 

5. Overcoming Stigma and Reclaiming Your Health

Weight loss medications were stigmatized for years, but that’s changing. You can work on a healthy mindset for yourself to thrive on weight loss medications.

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A common belief is that weight loss medications are the “easy way out,” but anyone who is on them knows that it takes hard work and dedication to lose weight. The medications address physiological barriers that you may have, but you are the one making decisions about your diet and other lifestyle choices. 

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It’s also important to realize that medications are a personal medical matter. They’re not anyone’s business except yours and your providers. You don’t have to tell anyone what medications you’re taking. 

Lark Can Help

When you can understand weight loss medications to know how they work and whether you may be a good candidate, you’re in a better position to make healthier choices. Lark can help you stay on top of nutrition information and goals. Your Lark coach is available 24/7 for encouragement, nutrition and physical activity coaching, and habit tracking. Lark can help you make healthy choices and establish habits that fit into your lifestyle so you can lose weight and keep it off with or without GLP-1 medications. 

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Click here to see if you may be eligible to join Lark today!

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