People want to lose weight for various reasons. Likewise, people also achieve weight loss in different ways. In a previous “How To Get Ripped In 8 Weeks?” post, we highlighted some effective ways to get ripped fast, including eating the right foods, getting daily exercise, clocking in enough sleep, and drinking plenty of water. Some people even lose weight when they take the right supplements.
However, while this is good advice, these simple lifestyle changes may not be effective or adequate for certain people. For people who are overweight or obese, healthier lifestyle changes are often recommended alongside medical weight loss methods. In this post, we’ll look at some examples of medical weight loss and whether or not you may need it:
Weight loss injections
One of the popular forms of medical weight loss today is injectable weight loss drugs. Names such as Ozempic and Wegovy have dominated headlines throughout the year. Still, other weight loss medications — such as Saxenda and Mounjaro — have also been FDA-approved for weight loss treatment.
When it comes to Saxenda vs Wegovy, both are injectable weight loss drugs initially FDA-approved only for treating type 2 diabetes. Saxenda was the first GLP-1 agonist approved for obesity treatment in 2014, and Wegovy — a higher-dose form of Ozempic — followed in 2021. As GLP-1 agonists, drugs such as Saxenda and Wegovy make you feel less hungry and help fight food cravings. Keep in mind, however, that these medications are meant for chronic weight management and are only prescribed to people who are obese (BMI of 30 or above) or seriously overweight (BMI of 27 or above), as well as those who have weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol.
Oral weight loss drugs
Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk recently ran tests for their experimental oral version of semaglutides such as Ozempic and Wegovy. These orally taken weight loss medications are an alternative to daily or weekly weight loss injections and may differ in dosage.
While Novo Nordisk already has an FDA-approved oral semaglutide marked under the brand name Rybelsus, the medication is only prescribed for treating type 2 diabetes. The new tests on the company’s experimental obesity pill have a dose of 50 milligrams compared to Rybelsus’ highest dose of 14 milligrams. According to the company’s study, patients who took 50 milligrams of the pill once a day for 68 weeks saw an average weight loss of 15.1% when taken alongside changes in diet and physical activity. These numbers are similar to studies for injectables such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
Bariatric surgery
Finally, another common form of medical weight loss is bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is considered one of the most effective ways for weight loss among patients with obesity, leading to weight loss of between 30% and 70& of their excess body weight annually. Candidates for bariatric surgery typically have a BMI of over 40 or over 35 and weight-related health problems such as type 2 diabetes.
Additionally, recent research from the journal Obesity found that bariatric surgery can contribute to a reduced risk of developing any cancers. Researchers found that bariatric surgery patients had a 25% lower risk of developing cancer compared with a non-surgical comparison group. While the field may require further research and studies in the future, these results are promising for those who struggle with weight-related health conditions.
Ultimately, while these forms of medical weight loss have become accessible to more people, it’s important to note that patients must meet certain body weight and health requirements to qualify for a prescription. Crucially, it’s important not to mix up the dosages meant for type 2 diabetes treatment for weight loss purposes as well since this has caused drug shortages in recent months.
