
Bring on the slings and arrows—I have faced them my entire career, and I’m not afraid!
It was only a matter of time before conventional medicine began dismissing diet and lifestyle interventions in the fight against obesity, especially now that we have GLP-1 agonist drugs that work so effectively.
Case in point? The powers-that-be claim no diet or exercise intervention has ever matched the average weight loss achieved with these popular injectables.
They’re also saying lifestyle interventions don’t hold a match to these drugs when it comes to weight management.
Well, as an esteemed weight-loss doctor, I beg to differ. But let’s see what the scientific literature says…
Don’t lose focus
The Look AHEAD trial was completed before those popular weight-loss drugs took the world by storm. (I’m referring to the GLP-1 agonists that contain the active ingredient semaglutide, marketed under brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy.)
This trial analyzed long-term weight-loss success over four years using intensive lifestyle interventions. As it turns out—and unsurprisingly—this approach resulted in an average of 4.7 percent total body weight loss, which was maintained after an eight-year follow-up period.
So, don’t tell me lifestyle interventions don’t work! You can make changes to naturally lose weight—and keep it off.
Of course, if you need extra help, there’s also no harm in using a weight-loss drug. But it’s not the apples-to-apples comparison conventional docs make it out to be.
See, they’re highlighting the fact that the semaglutide SELECT trial showed a 10.2 percent weight loss at four years. And the SURMOUNT-4 trial, which analyzed the weight-loss effect of tirzepatide, resulted in 25.3 percent weight-loss after about 1.5 years.
Don’t get me wrong: Those ARE amazing numbers. But I’m not doubting the numbers.
These GLP-1 medications work like a charm—they will help you lose weight. That’s why I’ve been prescribing them since they hit the market.
I do believe in their potential. And I’ll support your use of them, too.
But there’s more to the story…
Health is more than a number
What I’m trying to say is this: It isn’t all about losing weight. That’s an arbitrary measurement of health.
In fact, there are plenty of thin people who get sick, have long-term illnesses, and suffer a premature death. So, really, we’re missing the forest for the trees in these discussions.
Consider this: Oncologists look at whether they can shrink a tumor before starting treatment. But the thing that truly matters is quality of life and life expectancy. Will the treatment help you live a longer, healthier life—or not?
That’s exactly how we should approach weight loss.
It isn’t enough to “just” lose weight. You need to adopt healthy habits, too.
No one will ever convince me that indulging in the Standard American Diet (SAD), using plastic, neglecting sleep, or leading a sedentary lifestyle is healthy just because your weight is ideal.
This is just another example of how convention medicine misses the mark and sets you up for failure.
So, I urge you: Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.
Prioritize your weight and your overall health by adopting healthy habits. Never underestimate the power a balanced diet, regular exercise, and quality sleep—no matter the number on the scale.
Source:
“No, Diet and Exercise Are Not Better Than Drugs for Obesity.” MDedge, 12/06/2024. (mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/271834/obesity/no-diet-and-exercise-are-not-better-drugs-obesity)