If you are looking to lose weight, you may have come across studies that show that drugs used to control blood sugar for diabetics also have helped people lose weight. Some of these drugs have been approved for use as weight loss drugs and some are in the approval process.
Unfortunately using these drugs for weight loss may not be the best idea.
In this article, I’ll look at these medications, how they are intended to be used and why you shouldn’t use them for weight loss.
What is Ozempic for weight loss?
Ozempic, is an injectable prescription medication used to control blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes. It is also known by the generic name Semaglutide.
For blood sugar control it works by helping the pancreas to produce more insulin when your blood sugar is high. This ultimately leads to fat gain and muscle loss.
Semiglutide has been approved by the FDA under the brand name Wegovy as a weight loss drug, but due to shortages of Wegovy, Ozempic has been used as a weight loss drug.
What is Mounjaro for weight loss?
Mounjaro is also an injectable prescription medication used to lower blood sugar levels. It is also known by the generic name Tirzepatide.
Mounjaro has not been approved for weight loss yet, but approval is expected this year.
What is Metformin for weight loss?
Metformin is the most common drug used for lowering blood sugar. Metformin is sold under several brand names including Fortamet, Glumetza, Glucophage and Riomet. It is also included in several combination medications. Metformin comes in tablet or liquid form.
It is also used to control blood sugar levels in diabetics and has lately been used off label for weight loss.
How do these drugs help with weight loss?
These drugs are proposed to help with weight loss by affecting the hunger centers in the brain, reducing appetite and cravings. They also make you feel more full because they slow stomach emptying. But this leads to gut issues and microbiome changes that ultimately cause weight gain and hormonal issues.
They also balance blood sugar levels and this has also been proposed as a method they can help with weight loss.
These drugs have several side effects and are not the best way to lose weight.
What are the side effects of Ozempic?
Common side effects of Ozempic include:
swelling or itching at the injection site
tiredness
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
constipation
More serious side effects include kidney problems, vision changes, and pancreas or gallbladder disease.
What are the side effects of Mounjaro?
The common side effects of Mounjaro include:
Nausea
Diarrhea
Decreased appetite
Vomiting
Constipation
Dyspepsia
Abdominal pain
Discomfort at the injection site
More severe side effects include severe gastrointestinal reactions, hypoglycemia, increase in heart rate and gallbladder disease.
What are the side effects of Metformin?
Vitamin B12 deficiencies can lead to issues in the brain and peripheral nervous system. This increases the risk of peripheral neuropathy in diabetics. Vitamin B12 deficiencies may contribute to cognitive decline and even dementia.
Other side effects of metformin include:
tiredness
vomiting
nausea
stomach pain
dizziness
shortness of breath
Other reasons to avoid these drugs for weight loss
While these drugs have short term effects on weight loss due to muscle and body water loss, they don’t provide long term solutions and most people will gain the weight back when they stop using the drugs. Some people will even gain body fat while using the drugs.
While the advice is that these drugs should be used in combination with a diet and exercise program, the side effects may actually make it less likely that these changes will occur. Common side effects like nausea and tiredness mean you are less likely to exercise while taking these medications. And side effects like vomiting and diarrhea may make you less likely to make changes in your diet.
These drugs don’t help you to make lifestyle and dietary changes that are necessary for lasting weight loss and weight maintenance. They also don’t prevent emotional and binge eating which have little to do with hunger.
And these drugs don’t address hormonal issues except for blood sugar balance. And even this is questionable because they can lead to hypoglycemia. That can cause binging and low energy.
While significant short term weight loss is reported with these drugs, it is due to muscle and water loss. Changes in body composition are not reported in these studies. As with any rapid weight loss muscle is lost. Which leads to a slower metabolism and makes it hard to maintain the weight lost. I have seen with my patients a gain in fat while using these drugs.
Since these drugs have become popular for weight loss, there have been shortages reported. This means that people that take them for diabetes have not had reliable supplies.
What to do instead
A holistic approach to weight loss will have many more benefits than using these weight loss drugs. My patients who have been on these drugs, come off them and continue with their custom bio individual eating plan as they see the most results with the food balance alone. This type of approach focuses on the individual and looks at overall health and long lasting effects, not just a number on a scale.
My approach helps to balance the hormones responsible for weight gain and provides support for making nutrition and lifestyle changes that will have lasting change and results in your health and body! And without the side effects of these drugs.
My programs help you to not just lose weight, but increase energy, eliminate cravings, balance hormones, improve medical conditions and reduce stress. And the focus is on fat loss, not muscle loss so maintenance will be much easier, especially with the healthy lifestyle I help you to develop.
Book a free call or check out my resources here to find out more about how I can help you with your journey to weight loss and better health.
Warm wishes,
Vicki Witt | Clinical Nutritionist | Holistic Coach | Reiki Master | Certified LEAP allergy therapist Over 25 years of successfully helping you achieve optimal health and weight loss 🍏 | www.vickiwittweightloss.com
About Vicki:
Vicki Witt is a Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Coach, and Reiki Master. She has been practicing over 25 years and specializes in holistically customizing diet and lifestyle plans to each individual for weight loss and hormonal control. Her clientele often report they feel the best they have ever felt and wish they had started sooner. One of the USA and Australia's top Nutritionists, she has won multiple awards for her services in the industry.
Certified and Registered Nutritionist
