Experts Discuss: Do Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Hold The Answer to Long-Term Weight Management?

DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

Scott Keatley, RD CDN

Registered Dietician and founder of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy, Scott Keatley, had this to say:

These medications can be part of a comprehensive weight loss strategy for individuals who have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. However, it's crucial to emphasize that they should be used in conjunction with lifestyle modifications, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity. One of the most important considerations when using these medications is what weight is being lost.

We're looking to decrease the amount of excess fat on an individual while maintaining as much muscle mass as possible. Muscle is more metabolically active than fat, provides a temporary storage place for excess calories, and is hard to get back once it is gone. To maintain as much lean body mass as possible it's important to focus on eating enough calories and making sure protein is a prime part of every meal. ^[5]

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RD, CDN

Dr. Lea McMahon

Dr. Lea McMahon, a Licenced Professional Counselor and Psychologist, believes that weight loss medication shouldn't be considered until patients have taken active steps to making sustainable life changes:

In my experience, taking sustainable steps towards health is often better. You might not see results as quickly, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It gives a person time to get used to these lifestyle changes and increases the likelihood of getting healthy habits to stick. ^[6]

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Dr. Lea McMahon

LPC, EdD

John Lowe, Physician & Weight Loss Expert

Physician and weight loss expert John Lowe believes that patients should explore all options alongside these medications to get a clear picture of what their weight loss journey will consist of:

While these medications can help with weight loss, patients should be aware that they are not the only solution. Maintaining a healthy weight requires lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. Once the patient reaches the weight goal, he or she must slowly stop taking the drug under medical guidance and maintain healthy habits to regain weight. ^[7]

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Do weight loss drugs come with any potentially harmful side effects?

Prescription medications often come with unwanted but unavoidable side effects. Some weight loss drugs have already had recorded side effects listed, such as Ozempic face. While these may be necessary to endure for those with diabetes; are there any potentially risky side effects for using these medications as weight loss drugs?

Scott Keatley, RD CDN

Scott Keatley outlines the side effects of Ozempic and other medications, explaining how dosage largely affects their impact on health.

Some individuals may experience gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, or constipation. Others may report mood changes or feelings of anxiety. These side effects are usually tied to the dosage. In working with clients on these medications the lower doses usually have fewer side effects but the side effects that do occur usually lessen over time. But as always, it's important for healthcare providers to monitor patients closely for any adverse reactions and to provide support and guidance throughout the treatment process. ^[5]

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RD, CDN

Dr. Phyllis Pobee, DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

Dr. Pobee goes on to explain that there must be a balance of awareness of the side effects of these medications alongside their use as a groundbreaking solution for weight issues.

Dr. Lea McMahon

Not everyone is quite as on board with these medications as a “one-stop-shop” for weight loss. Dr McMahon explains that while these medications can help with the physical side of weight loss, there are still mental connections that must be addressed.

One concern I have is that weight loss is often viewed as a cure for all life’s woes. In the media and popular culture, weight loss is linked with happiness, self-esteem, and increased success. While this may be the case for some people, the reality is often a lot more complex.

Ultimately, medication like Ozempic can help a person lose weight, but this won’t automatically fix any other issues they are experiencing, with the outcome only creating worse mental health problems when the weight loss hasn’t instantly solved everything. ^[6]

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Dr. Lea McMahon

LPC, EdD

Is there a risk of weight loss drugs being abused by people with eating disorders?

There are thousands of people in the U.S. and around the globe who can and will benefit from these medications. However, the prevalence of eating disorders and the glorification of these drugs by celebrity culture opens the door for them being abused.

Scott Keatley, RD CDN

Scott Keatley explains that the issue of weight loss drugs being abused isn’t something to preempt, it is already here.

It's not a risk, it's happening. For individuals who don't want to feel hungry and lose more and more fat and muscle from their bodies, they are abusing these medications. This is why there should be safeguards in place to avoid prescribing these medications to individuals prone to anorexia nervosa--such as having nutrition counseling before being provided the shots and having the shots done in a clinic rather than at home. ^[5]

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RD, CDN

Dr. Phyllis Pobee, DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

Dr. Pobee highlights the allure of weight loss drugs and how closely physicians need to monitor their patients' relationship with these drugs.

The potential misuse among individuals with eating disorders is a profound concern. The promise of weight loss can be dangerously attractive, underscoring the need for a therapeutic alliance between patient and physician, ensuring use is ethical and beneficial. Moreover, the impact on nutrition and a balanced diet cannot be overstated; these medications can disrupt natural hunger cues, which requires dietary counseling to maintain nutritional balance. ^[4]

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DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

John Lowe, Physician & Weight Loss Expert

Weight loss expert John Lowe believes that physicians need to rigorously assess patients' mental health before prescribing should even be considered.

There is concern that people with eating disorders abuse weight loss medications. These drugs can alter hunger and satiety signals, which can worsen abnormal eating behaviors. Thus, physicians should carefully and judiciously assess the patient’s mental health before prescribing these medications. ^[7]

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Can weight loss drugs negatively impact nutrition and a balanced diet?

One of the biggest challenges faced by those attempting to lose large amounts of weight is establishing a healthy, balanced, and nutritional diet that they can stick to. An over-reliance on weight loss drugs in place of discipline toward dietary changes could lead to negative impacts on diet and nutrition. Here’s what the experts had to say.

Scott Keatley, RD CDN

I liken it to a temporary bariatric surgery. The goal of the medication is to keep you feeling full all the time so you will consume the appropriate amount of calories. Unfortunately, most people don't know how much these medications will impact their appetite and how easy it is to get into a trap of not feeling hungry, not eating, and then getting praise for losing weight.

If you're doing a weight loss medication correctly you should be focusing on making sure you're getting enough food as much as you used to focus on limiting calories. ^[5]

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RD, CDN

Dr. Phyllis Pobee, DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

From both my personal journey and professional practice, I advocate for a path that respects the complexity of obesity. My approach at Slim Signal integrates cutting-edge scientific research with a compassionate understanding of each individual’s unique journey. It's not just about losing weight; it's about gaining health, confidence, and a joy for life that every person deserves. ^[4]

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DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

John Lowe, Physician & Weight Loss Expert

Weight loss supplements can affect nutrition and food balance by altering appetite or altering nutrient absorption. Patients should be informed of the importance of following a nutritious diet to reduce the risk of malnutrition. The nutritional status of individuals undergoing treatment should be monitored regularly. ^[7]

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Are there any other concerns raised by the increase in prescriptions for weight loss drugs?

The biggest concern raised by the increased popularity of weight loss drugs is that those using them won’t have as much need to make the significant lifestyle changes needed to improve their relationship with food. But the issues may run deeper than this. The experts offer their biggest concerns regarding the increased prescriptions for weight loss drugs.

Scott Keatley, RD CDN

I am a fan of using these as tools to decrease the amount of excess adipose tissue (fat) on an individual. But without lifestyle changes, this will become a lifetime drug with complications we may not fully understand at this time. ^[5]

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RD, CDN

Dr. Phyllis Pobee, DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

The increase in prescriptions raises ethical and societal questions about our collective approach to body image and health. It prompts a reflection on our responsibility to advocate for informed, science-backed approaches over the societal pressure for quick fixes. ^[4]

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DABOM, ABFM, CCFP

John Lowe, Physician & Weight Loss Expert

The widespread use of prescription weight loss drugs raises a variety of concerns. Over-reliance on these medications as emergency maintenance may downplay the importance of lifestyle changes. Furthermore, access and affordability issues may have appropriately restricted access to these treatments, exacerbating health disparities. ^[7]

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