Weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have soared in popularity. However, Australians are being reminded that GLP-1 injections are not a one-size-fits-all solution and that significant lifestyle changes are necessary to improve overall health.
A recent study by the University of Melbourne, which hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed, revealed people can lose a lot more weight if they have a good diet and exercise regime in addition to the medication. This holistic approach saw people drop 30 per cent more weight than those who solely relied on the drug.
Victorian-based grandmother Karen told Yahoo Lifestyle was 88kgs before she started her GLP-1 journey. Not only that, but her BMI was in the unhealthy range, she had a fatty liver, and weight-related back issues.
“I had steadily gained weight through COVID, and my sister and my best friend passed away, so I’d stopped taking care of myself, and the weight had crept on,” she said.
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People who are overweight can develop health issues cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis, and some cancers, according to the World Health Organization.
When Karen saw her doctor, she didn’t just want to lose weight, she wanted to fix her overall health.
She was first prescribed Ozempic in September 2023 and, after nine months, she switched to Mounjaro.
The 53-year-old made the jump after feeling like she had plateaued, and her doctor encouraged her to give it a go.
Eighteen months after she started her first GLP-1, she shed nearly 30kgs.
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How do GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro work?
GLP-1 medications slow down your digestion, according to health insurer Bupa, meaning you feel fuller for longer and, as a result, reduce the amount of food you eat.
Some people on GLP-1s continue to eat the same foods they’ve always eaten, even if it’s junk, but can still lose weight because they’re consuming less overall.
Because Karen wanted a holistic approach to getting healthy, when she signed up to take the medication, she was provided with extensive information about recipes and workouts to do.
Karen said it was important to her to have a good diet and engaging fitness regime while she was losing weight on GLP-1 medications. Picture: Supplied
“I’ve always eaten healthily, but I was making bad choices during those couple of years and ate rubbish,” she said.
“I really benefited from all those recipes.”
As for the exercising, experts asked her a few questions about her daily life and were able to construct a program that would slot in perfectly with her everyday movements.
“So I was 88kg when I started,” Karen said.
“And I wanted to get down to 68kg but I ended up getting down to under 60kg.
“It took about a year, a year and a half. I did it really slowly as I didn’t want to rush it.
“Sometimes people say, ‘Isn’t it cheating?’ And my answer to that is, ‘It’s help’.
“It’s just that little bit of assistance. But you still do the you still do the work yourself.”
Holistic approach to GLP-1 medications can yield bigger results
The University of Melbourne’s study was done in collaboration with online health platform Mosh, which provides tailored meal and exercise programs for people on GLP-1 medications.
Researchers poured over data from nearly 10,000 people and after just 180 days, those who looked after their diet and physical activity were two-and-a-half times more likely to lose at least 5 per cent of their body weight compared to those who only used the medication.
Women on the Mosh program lost an average of 35 per cent more weight than those solely on the medication.
Mosh Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kieran Dang, told Yahoo Lifestyle that GLP-1 medications are incredibly powerful, but can work even better when they’re used alongside a holistic health plan.
Dr Kieran Dang said having a more holistic approach to GLP-1 medications can help people lose much more weight and give them health habits when they come off the medication. Picture: Supplied
“People generally seem to know that these medications work really well, but what they might not know is some of the nuances and the pitfalls that they could run into,” he said.
“They might not know that losing weight very, very quickly can result in a lot of muscle loss as well, which is one of the things we want to avoid.”
He said having a proper meal and exercise plan can help mitigate this issue.
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People on GLP-1 medications will have regular check ins with healthcare professionals to see how they’re coping with it.
But some doctors can be limited in the advice they are allowed to offer in the diet and exercise space.
However, they can typically point you in the direction of people who can help if you want to have a more holistic approach to your weight loss journey.
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