HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – GLP-1 medications have become one of the biggest topics in weight loss, but with more people turning to these drugs to help lose a few pounds, medical experts say they are not a magical solution — there are lifestyle changes that people need to consider to receive the best results.
Emily Stevens, a nursing professor at James Madison University, said GLP-1 drugs work by controlling our appetites and making us feel fuller faster, then sending a signal to our brains that we are no longer hungry. At the same time, Stevens said it’s essential that people using the medication make sure to maintain a healthy diet, get enough protein and exercise.
“Because it is reducing your appetite, so you’re taking in less food, and so that means the food that you do take needs to be more nutrient dense, if you will,” Stevens said. “The food that you eat needs to count more, so that you adequately fuel your body and give it what it needs. … Some of that weight that you lose is fat tissue, but some of it is also lean muscle mass, and in order to help preserve the muscle mass in favor of losing fat mass, you need to make sure you get plenty of protein and strength train.”
With compounded versions of GLP-1 medications becoming a growing interest for weight loss, Stevens said, there are a few safety risks people should know about. Compounded versions are when a pharmacist takes the raw materials or ingredients of a medication and mixes them together to form a different formulation of the drug, typically when there is a shortage, Stevens said.
“When the GLP-1s were first introduced into the market, there was a high demand and less supply, so they were in shortage for some time after they were introduced for the use of weight loss,” Stevens said. “Compounding increased significantly to meet that demand, so there is some FDA approval for it, and some regulation over the places where the medication materials come from.”
However, Stevens said, there is not strict oversight in the manufacturing process of compound formulations, leaving concerns about the purity of the product, differences in dosing, concentration or strength.
“That can be an issue, and then also verification that what is in the compound is actually what it is supposed to be, so there is a place for compounding to meet demand,” Stevens said. “However, now that these GLP-1 medications are not in shortage, it’s better for patients to actually get the medication from the FDA oversight, the pharmaceutical linkers and the branding products. … Those are also the products that were included in the trials and the research studies, so it’s better to choose those products over compounded products.”
She said GLP-1 drugs are made for those diagnosed with diabetes. Stevens said before you start taking one, you should discuss the commitment that comes with taking this medication with a doctor.
“I think a lot of people view these medications potentially as something they can take until they lose the weight that they want to lose, and then they can discontinue them,” she said. “Really, these are more chronic lifelong medications to treat obesity, because it’s a chronic disease.”
She said people should also speak with their health care provider about potential side effects and insurance, because without insurance, the medication can be pricey. However, Stevens said that in an “exciting” development, Medicare will begin providing coverage for the GLP-1 medications to enrollees as part of a temporary pilot program.
She said patients should always discuss Medicare and insurance with their doctor, and also talk about potential side effects when taking the medication.
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