Are GLP-1 Drugs like Ozempic The Golden Ticket to Weight Loss?
The use of trendy weight loss drugs has been no secret over the past few decades and you’ve likely heard of the latest trend that’s taken the media by storm: GLP-1 antagonists (aka GLP-1’s), with one of the most popular drugs being Semaglutide, or perhaps better known as Ozempic. While there are many others and we won’t get into the specifics in this article, we will be discussing what GLP-1 antagonists are, how they work, the potential dangers of these drugs and some better alternatives to healthier, sustainable weight loss.
What are GLP-1 Antagonists?
GLP-1 is a hormone produced in the small intestine that triggers the release of insulin from the pancreas. GLP-1 antagonists, also known as glucagon-like peptide-1 antagonists, are a class of drugs originally intended for use in type 2 diabetics to help control blood sugar regulation. These drugs are often taken weekly and generally in the form of an injection.
How Do GLP-1 Antagonists Work?
First, let’s talk about how blood sugar works. When we eat, the sugar in our food breaks down into smaller sugars called glucose, which then raises the glucose (sugar) levels in the blood stream. This triggers the pancreas to release the hormone insulin to lower blood sugar in response to the rise in glucose.
The main purpose of GLP-1 antagonists is to increase insulin levels, which results in lowered blood glucose levels and therefore fat burning and weight loss. It also slows digestion, making you feel fuller longer, more satiated while eating less and decreasing cravings. They slow the movement of food through the GI tract, particularly from the stomach into the small intestine. This slower gastric emptying results in a feeling of fullness, which is why people are often not very hungry while taking GLP-1’s.
The Potential Dangers of GLP-1’s
Common side effects of these drugs may include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Constipation
Abdominal pain
Acid reflux
Change in taste
Headaches
Fatigue
Dizziness
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that Ozempic may benefit those with heart disease, but could this be due to the significant link between obesity and cardiovascular incident?
While this may seem harmless or even beneficial, these side effects are not something to ignore. In fact, there are currently numerous class action law suits against Ozempic as well as other GLP-1 antagonist drugs.
Another significant concern is slowed gut motility, leading to constipation and the potential for digestive issues once the person is no longer taking the drug. Furthermore, many people who take GLP-1 antagonists end up gaining the weight back due to unnatural appetite suppression while on the drug and not addressing weight gain at the root or changing bad habits.
Other less common, but more serious side effects may include:
Increased risk of gall stones
Increased risk of pancreatitis
Increased risk of kidney disease
Increased risk of thyroid cancer (they have been linked to thyroid tumours in rats)
Allergic reactions
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Vision changes
Alternatives for Healthy + Sustainable Weight Loss
Dietary Changes
As we’ve said earlier, on a basic level, food causes blood sugar levels to increase after we’ve eaten. But different types of foods will cause varying degrees of blood sugar spikes. For example, eating a sandwich or cereal has a very different response in our bodies than eating a salad with plenty of protein and fat. The food we eat helps regulate our blood sugar, or it can cause disregulation, leaving our blood sugars spiking and crashing all day long (and even into the night disrupting sleep!) Learning how to eat to regulate blood sugar is not only absolutely essential for healthy, sustainable weight loss, but also for fertility, supporting PCOS, regulating mood, energy and more.
Fasting
Fasting can have a tremendous impact on lowering blood sugar and insulin levels and therefore positively contributing to weight loss. However, fasting as a woman can and should look different than fasting as a man. Fasting is a hormetic, or natural stressor to the body and because our hormones are very different, our bodies in turn, will respond uniquely to this stressor. If you’re curious about how to fast according to your cycle, we have a whole blog post on it here.
Supplementing Effectively
If you’re looking for more support when it comes to weight loss, you don’t need to resort to dangerous weight loss drugs. The MindBody GLP-1 System is a promising natural alternative to GLP-1 drugs. This supplement system has been shown to increase GLP-1 by an average of 140% through regulating and balancing hunger hormones without the use of harmful medications. Participants in their clinical studies resulted in:
An average of 9 lbs lost in just 8 weeks and up to 25 lbs in just 12 weeks
No muscle loss
Visceral fat loss (the bad fat) of up to 27%
Better food and craving control, including 95% of participants experiencing less sugar cravings
Get the MindBody GLP-1 System today and kick start your weight loss journey - naturally!
Asher Kleiber
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
