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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably come across advertisements in various places for different types of weight loss drugs promising to melt the fat so you can achieve the pants size of your dreams. What these ads are not so transparent on is the side effects they can have, the lasting negative effects that may occur, and the fact that you’ll need to stay on them for as long as you want to maintain your weight loss.

While there are clearly cases where the benefits outweigh the risks, for many people they’re just a band aid, a very expensive, and potentially harmful band aid to other possible problem(s) lurking beneath the surfaces that may be the cause of weight issues. 

Without getting to the root cause of the weight management struggle and examining our mental health, as an example to evaluate if there’s a connection there, weight loss simply cannot be sustainable. In addition, there needs to be a clear nutritional and exercise program to go along with these medications to reduce side effects, especially gut health, deal with nutritional deficiencies that come from a lower caloric intake and build muscle mass to fuel metabolism and prevent muscle wasting and bone loss. 

In case you’re not familiar with what I am speaking about, I’m talking about glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs. This class of drugs mimic the action of hormones naturally produced in the gut. These hormones regulate blood sugar levels, stimulate insulin release, and slow down the emptying of the stomach, which can promote feelings of fullness and reduce appetite. 

The appetite-suppressing effects and promotion of weight loss are now key reasons they are widely prescribed, though their original purpose was blood sugar control for people with type 2 diabetes. Don’t get me wrong, for some people they are life changing and a real benefit. For example, they can reduce inflammation, improve fatty liver disease, reduce pressure on joints after losing weight so exercise is more comfortable, and promote a feeling of well-being for those who have tried everything without success. But there are also significant side effects that need to be explored. 

Let’s talk about some of these side effects for the different types of GLP-1 drugs.

There have been several major clinical studies done in the last decade to test the efficacy and safety of GLP-1 injectable and oral drugs. In addition to proving the drug’s benefits for blood sugar control and weight loss, they also exposed the side effects and risks that are commonly associated with these meds.

The 5 major clinical studies I’m talking about are: 

• STEP (Semaglutide Treatment Effect in People with Obesity) Trials
• SUSTAIN (Semaglutide Unabated Sustainability in Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes) Trials
• LEADER (Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results) Trials
• SCALE (Satiety and Clinical Adiposity–Liraglutide Evidence) Obesity and Prediabetes Trials
• PIONEER Trials *focused on oral GLP-1 but provided data applicable to injectables.

Taking a look at the side effects that presented during these 5 studies, the most common for both oral and injectable GLP-1 drugs were gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. The more serious side effects that occurred were pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, and potential risks for thyroid tumors and diabetic retinopathy complications.

I do want to highlight, however, that these medications were shown to be effective for both diabetes management and weight loss, with careful monitoring required to manage the risks.

Sources: Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. “Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity.” NEJM, 2021. Marso SP, Bain SC, Consoli A, et al. “Semaglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.” NEJM, 2016. Marso SP, Daniels GH, Brown-Frandsen K, et al. “Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes.” NEJM, 2016. Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, Fujioka K, et al. “A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management.” NEJM, 2015. Pratley R, Amod A, et al. “Oral Semaglutide versus Placebo in Type 2 Diabetes.” Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol, 2019.

But what about mental health side effects? 

Good question! 

The clinical trials I listed above did not focus a lot on mental health outcomes, but there was some evidence to suggest a low-level risk of mood changes or depression, particularly in people predisposed to mental health conditions. 

Regulatory agencies, like the EMA and FDA, have flagged mental health issues, such as depression and suicidal thoughts, as potential but rare side effects of GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. 

So even though these mental health changes are not as common as the gastrointestinal or cardiovascular issues, they should still be considered and monitored by a professional especially if there’s a history of mental health conditions!

Sources: Pi-Sunyer X, Astrup A, et al. “A Randomized, Controlled Trial of 3.0 mg of Liraglutide in Weight Management.” NEJM, 2015. Marso SP, Daniels GH, et al. “Liraglutide and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes.” NEJM, 2016. EMA’s Saxenda safety updates, FDA Saxenda prescribing information. 

What is the difference between taking these quick weight loss drugs vs a sustainable weight loss program?

For anyone who may be taking these drugs, or have consulted with their physician, you may have been told that GLP-1 drugs work best in combination with lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise. And I agree! 

That right there is the difference: are you taking the drugs but not making any changes to your habits? 

Most of the time, weight problems are caused by underlying issues that have nothing to do with “being lazy” or “glutinous” like mainstream fat-phobic critics would have us believe. Whether it’s a medical issue, a mental health issue, or a combination of both, it is very important to include the discovery of that in our weight loss and weight management journeys

Make no mistake, these drugs can be lifesavers for people with pre-existing medical conditions where it is of the utmost importance to shift the weight effectively before more serious conditions, comorbidities or diseases, set in.

However, for those of us looking to “shed a few pounds” whether to drop down into a more “healthy weight range” as outlined by our doctors, or for more aesthetic reasons, taking a GLP-1 medication on its own for however long it takes to achieve the desired results is not the sustainable way to do this. The prolonged use of these drugs causes not only a fat mass decrease, but also a loss in muscle mass. 

This loss in muscle mass results in a slower metabolism than before you started the weight loss journey, which makes it increasingly more difficult to maintain any weight loss once going off the medication.  

As a professional, what do I recommend?

I highly recommend that anyone deciding to incorporate GLP-1 weight loss or weight management drugs into their journey do so in conjunction with a medical professional and professional nutritionist coach to support your emotional well-being and uncover underlying issues contributing to your weight gain story. 

In addition, nutritional support to deal with common deficiencies from consuming less essential nutrients like Vitamin D, B12, Iron and calcium is recommended and gut health support to build up the gut microbiome and prevent side effects. Lastly, making sure there is enough protein in the diet to fuel the metabolism and prevent muscle wasting. 

For over 20 years I have helped countless people root out the underlying cause of their weight gain, lose their desired weight, and find sustainable ways to keep it off. Some of the biggest underlying causes I’ve found are:

• Hormonal disorders/imbalances
• Underlying inflammation
• Bad gut bacteria and yeast overgrowth throughout the body
• Emotional eating due to mental health stressor
• Inability to moderate food intake for either physical or emotional reasons

My approach with my clients is to use a combination of dietary changes and lifestyle coaching with a variety of clinical tests to find answers to the deep-rooted problems that a traditional doctor may not initially address or look into. About 12 years ago, I decided to go back for additional training in yoga and mindfulness coaching. I did this to help more people who had a greater need to learn stress management techniques and tools to help them heal deep rooted problems that were leading to their symptoms, including weight challenges. The mind, body, and spirit are all connected when it comes to our deep-rooted problems, and addressing all three of these important aspects is what makes my programs unique and life changing.

Are you finding yourself in a difficult position and having challenges with weight loss? Would you like to start off your journey more holistically? Or maybe you’re currently taking a GLP-1 and are in need of assistance to make the weight loss/ weight maintenance sustainable and want help with some of the side-effects you are experiencing? 

Join me in a 90-day coaching program, tailored to your specific needs and designed to help you lose weight and keep it off sustainably. Click here to schedule a free, 15 minute discovery call to find out how I can help you meet your personal health goals, or you can email me at [email protected]. This is a tough journey, but I am here to support you all the way! 

Client Testimonials

“I have been going to Renee for over a year now. At first it was difficult to confide in someone and relinquish food as my comfort source. Renee has shown me, through her compassion and sensitivity , that it was safe for me to actually feel good and want to take care of myself. She has guided me nutritionally so that the weight and inflammation in my body have subsided and this has allowed me to have greater mobility and health. Renee’s knowledge of nutrition is just the tip of the iceberg. Her healing energy and spiritual sessions have been powerful and healing. Treating the source and not just the symptoms, has given me a positive outlook for the future. Thank you Renee.”

– R.Y., NY

I just lost 40.4 pounds while working with Renee Simon. For the last 11 years I have been trying to lose weight. Weight Watchers didn’t work as I would gain all the weight back. My doctor wrote in his files “obese. ”    I tried on my own but of course gained more. My doctor put me on a weight program where a scale is sent to me and whenever I weigh myself it goes  directly to him. I was supposed to be given a nutritionist with the program, but as my luck would have their nutritionist left and I had no one to help me.  I luckily found Renee. It’s been a godsend. I’ve been on the program since January 2023. As of today, September 18th, 2023 I have lost 40.4 pounds. The best part is I’m actually keeping it off. I’m now wearing clothes I haven’t fit into since 2005.  I am so happy I cannot express. The other day I dropped something on the floor and had to bend down to get it. I realized that’s the first time I bent down with absolutely NO difficulty!!!  I cannot recommend Renee‘s talents enough!   

-A.E., FL