What is missing with Ozempic and the Ozempic-like medications for the treatment of the overweight condition? These GLP-1, Glucagon Like Peptide class of medications, offer a medicalized treatment for the overweight condition that is accepted to be safe and very effective. Initial side effects may include nausea, vomiting and constipation, but later potential adverse effects such as gall bladder disease, pancreatitis and a rare form of thyroid cancer are still of some concern. The long term (years) effects of these medications are still under evaluation. While these medications act in a well understood physiological manner to promote rapid weight loss, whether they can deliver long-term weight management is still in question. An important part of weight management is addressing the many psychological and emotional aspects of why individuals overeat in the first place to cause significant weight gain. The simple concept of the GLP-1 medication is to take a pill or use an injection to reduce and turn off the “call of the food”, to eat less snacks and foods which then because of less calorie intake, a weight loss occurs. But the desire to overeat is not purely physiological as there are many psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, frustration and boredom, that are often triggers that promote overeating and using food as a coping mechanism for emotional and stress induced eating.
As a clinician I have come to understand that many individuals overeat because of an empty heart rather than because of an empty stomach. The maladjusted eating behaviors of many overweight individuals must be adjusted if any long-term weight management and stabilization is to occur.
The GLP-1 medications offer an important and significant tool to help with weight loss but, I believe, lack in emphasizing the importance of life style eating behavior. This is a difficult but missing piece of the GLP-1 success story. Dealing with the emotional part of obesity is still a complex, frustrating and unmet need of obesity treatment.
One other important part of the GLP-1 story is the fact that with a reduction of eating there often occurs a reduction of drinking behavior and hydration. This reduction of fluid intake can cause a loss of skin elasticity, skin luster and sheen as well as causing other symptoms such as light headiness, fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps and mental confusion.
Many individuals confuse thirst with hunger, thinking that they are hungry when in reality they are dehydrated and thirsty. And when they eat, they also drink to quench their thirst.
To help comfort these two problems during weight loss, emotional eating and dehydration I have found that the two herbal supplements Attenuate and Attenuslim, can help individuals to “sip but not snack” as they also help to reduce the appetite, decrease hunger and help curb carbohydrate cravings. To find out how these physician developed and clinically tested products can help your weight loss program, please go to attenuatepro.com