Making Sense of Weight Loss Options

Making Sense of Weight Loss Options: The truth about GLP-1 medications, side effects, and proven strategies you can start today.

I hope this newsletter finds you well. In this issue, I thought I would share some information about a topic that is making headlines: GLP-1 receptor agonist medications for weight loss, including Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro.

As a nurse and a health coach, I think it’s important to understand these treatments and how they might affect your health.

Here are some key points to consider:

How GLP-1 medications work: These medications mimic a hormone your body naturally produces to regulate appetite and blood sugar. They can significantly suppress appetite, which is why some users describe the effect as ‘calming the food noise’.

Potential benefits:

• Some users lose 15-20% of their body weight over a year.

• These medications can also help stabilise blood sugar levels, which is particularly beneficial for those with insulin resistance.

Important considerations:

• Side effects: Nausea, constipation, headaches, fatigue. More serious risks include muscle loss or gallbladder issues.

• Nutrient deficiencies: Reduced appetite may lead to under-eating key nutrients.

• Long-term use: Weight regain is common after stopping the injections. Without established healthy habits, users typically regain around 75% of the weight lost.

These medications are not a magic fix and work best when combined with a nourishing diet, regular physical activity, and healthy lifestyle habits.

If weight is a concern but you’d rather avoid medication, there are sustainable, evidence-based approaches that work, such as:

• Strength training: Maintaining or building muscle protects metabolism and makes weight loss more sustainable.

• Protein at every meal: Helps control appetite and preserves lean body mass.

• Mindful eating: Pausing before and during meals builds awareness of hunger and fullness.

• Consistency: Routine matters with meal timing, sleep, and activity and often makes a big difference.

This is a very simplified version of a complex medication.

Wishing you the best in health,

Carrie Cannon MBECertified Health Coach, MPH, BSc, RGNcarrie@carriecannonhealth.comhttps://www.carriecannonhealth.com/