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Weight loss medications are highly effective, typically resulting in a weight loss of 5% to 22%.
These drugs stop you eating much sooner than other people around the table and are effective in reducing snacking. Making you less likely to eat between meals.
A semaglutide (Wegovy) study carried out in 2021 found that when adults with a body mass index of 30 or greater took a once-weekly injection of 2.4 milligrams, while also making lifestyle changes, lost an average of 15% of their body weight after 68 weeks (about 1 and a half years).
By comparison, a Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) study found that when adults with a BMI of 30 or more who took 15 milligrams lost an average of 22.5% of their body weight in 72 week.
The weight loss that occurs with these drugs can have other positive effects, such as reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and regulating your blood sugar.
However, the medication also has the potential for side effects. These side effects vary from person to person. The most common of which are: -
Nausea
Vomiting.
Diarrhoea.
Heartburn and acid reflux (including burping).
Bloating.
Research has shown that side effects typically appear when first starting the medication and they usually dissipate as the body adapts to the medication. Over time specialists have learned that by starting with a low dose and escalating it slowly over a period of 4-5 months, this can lower the side effect profile significantly.
How to reduce the risk of side effects
To mitigate the side effects, here are a few strategies that can help you:
Pay attention to the quality and timing of your diet. It’s important to reduce fat and stick with a regular eating pattern. Simply put, have a small amount of food that’s nutritious and healthy a few times per day and remember to nourish your body.
Eat more slowly as this will help to fill you up.
Stay well-hydrated, drink water with your meal.
Listen to your body. Learning to listen to your body will help you know when to stop eating before you feel full.
Eat bland low fat foods, like crackers, toast and rice.
Eat foods that contain water, like soups and gelatin
Avoid fried, greasy, or sweet foods
Avoid lying down after you eat
Go outdoors for fresh air
Now the important bits!
As with significant weight loss in general, some people who take these drugs may experience muscle loss, this could increase the risk of injury, particularly for older adults. That's why eating protein rich food and ensuring you exercise is so important.
Weight loss medication may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, but current evidence cannot definitively confirm whether the medication carries the same risk in humans as it has shown in animals. To be safe, make sure you complete the online assessment comprehensively before starting your weight loss journey and if you experience any of the following symptoms, stop taking the medication until you have had an assessment with a medical professional.
A lump or swelling in the neck.
Hoarseness.
Difficulty swallowing.
Shortness of breath
Weight loss medication, Wegovy and Tirzepatide slow gastric emptying and can cause abdominal symptoms, as explained above, very rarely can they imitate intestinal blockage, but research has shown they do not cause intestinal obstruction.
Long-Term Side Effects of Weight Loss Drugs
Because these drugs are relatively new and have not been around for too long, little is known about long-term side effects, but experts are keeping an eye on this and the good news is, no lasting issues have emerged so far.
Click on this link to take our the online assessment and start you weight loss journey here
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