What are GLP-1 Agonists and How Do They Work?

More than 70% of US adults are overweight or obese. Anti-obesity medication is prescribed in 2% of the eligible population due to concerns about safety and effectiveness, lack of healthcare provider training in weight management and toxic stigma that portrays obesity as a choice, and lack of willpower.

GLP one or glucagon like peptide agonists were first approved for the treatment of type two diabetes. 

Now we have two recently FDA approved anti-Obesity medication‘s, Liraglutide and semiglutide

 The new indications for these two meds include weight loss in adults with obesity with a BMI of greater than equal to 30 without diabetes and adults with a BMI of greater than or equal to 27 and one related comorbidity like hypertension or elevated cholesterol. The GLP-1 Liraglutide in particular, also has an indication for use in obesity of adolescents 12-17 yrs of age. 

GLP one receptor agonist medications can help you lose weight in two ways:

1.  Making the stomach empty slower so you feel fuller with smaller amounts of food, which helps you eat less and this creates caloric deficit that leads to weight loss.
2. Signaling specific areas of brain where appetite is regulated and tells the brain there is food in the stomach, decreasing hunger, which helps to decrease appetite and cravings. 

Liraglutide (Saxenda) is an injectable dosed once a Day and semiglutide (Wegovy) is an injectable dosed once a week which may help with compliance. 

Some of the common side effects include nausea vomiting diarrhea and dizziness.

The GLP 1 class of drugs isn’t recommended if you have a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia.

GLP one drugs can lead to weight loss of about 10.5 to 15.8 pounds when using a Liraglutide. Studies have found that using semiglutide with lifestyle changes, helped patients lose about 33.7 pounds versus 5.7 pounds in those who didn’t use the drug.

These new anti-obesity medication‘s are a game changer, they are unique in how they are prescribed: They are used to treat obesity as a chronic metabolic disease ( a medical condition) rather than perpetuating the misconception that obesity is a (personal problem) failure and self inflicted by a lack of Will power. 

GLP 1 medications provide targeted therapy aimed at the biology of the disease of obesity and alternatively provide another safe and effective option in the treatment of obesity. 

 If you are interested in learning more about how to reduce extra unwanted weight, please reach out to Premier Physicians Weight Loss and Wellness to see if you are a good candidate for this treatment option.