The new, highly effective injectable obesity medications have brought a new focus to the advancing field of obesity medicine.
Health care professionals from multiple specialties are moving beyond weight loss to focus more on health gains.
That’s because the research is clear regarding the many health benefits of taking GLP-1 medications.
Clinicians are doing their best to keep up with the latest research.
And so are their patients.
If you’re considering taking a GLP-1 medication (or are already on one), here are some ways to boost health gains in the process:
1-Share Personal Health Goals
Though weight loss may be your primary concern, a narrow focus on only weight loss is not the ultimate goal.
Instead, improved weight management outcomes that include better health and quality of life is the focus.
It’s helpful to know the many ways GLP-1 medications have been shown to improve one’s health.
If you have any of the following health concerns, taking a GLP-1 along with following healthy lifestyle behaviors may be right for you:
- Better blood sugar control
- Better blood pressure control
- Improved sleep apnea
- Decreased risk of future heart attack or stroke
- Improved knee arthritis pain
- Improved fatty liver disease
- Improved diabetes related kidney disease
- Improved mobility and physical functioning
Discuss with your healthcare professional if you are a candidate based on these medical conditions.
2-Adapt Your Healthy Lifestyle Journey
With less food noise and better appetite control, the role of lifestyle modification shifts away from attaining weight loss through calorie restriction.
The new focus is on improving dietary and physical activity patterns to promote healthier body composition and improved overall health.
Examples of steps you can take may include:
- Consume nutrient-dense, high protein foods to help preserve muscle mass
- Avoid fatty foods, large portions of foods and alcohol which can worsen GI side effects (like nausea and vomiting) while taking a GLP-1
- Increase daily physical activity and participate in planned aerobic exercise to maintain or improve cardiorespiratory fitness
- Engage in resistance training exercises to preserve muscle mass and bone health during weight loss
3) Manage Your Health Longterm
GLP-1 medications work inside the body to help control appetite and reduce food noise.
By diminishing hunger and cravings, one is more successful in losing weight.
However, GLP-1 medications are not considered a short-term fix.
Once these medications are stopped, there is a high likelihood that weight gain will occur and health gains will diminish.
The goal is to leverage the benefits of a GLP-1 by still following healthy lifestyle behaviors like choosing healthier foods, engaging in daily physical activity, improving sleep habits and managing stress better.
RK
Robert Kushner, MD
