“Will You Marry Me?” – What to Consider Before Starting a GLP-1 Agonist for Weight Loss
When a new drug comes on the market it is the FDA’s job to assess the safety of the medication and state the medication’s indication(s). The indication refers to the approved use of medication to treat a specific health problem. When GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic hit the market they were only approved for use in people with Type 2 Diabetes. Since then, other GLP-1’s such as Wegovy and Zepbound have been approved for use for people with chronic obesity with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 OR greater than 27 if the person has an additional health condition such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Currently, many people using GLP-1 agonists do not qualify for the medication under the FDA guidelines.
When people use medications “off label” there can be more risk involved. There is not as much data available to support this type of use. While it is not illegal, we cannot depend on the backing from the FDA which is supported by a careful risk/benefit analysis. Now, people with a BMI under 27 to 30 are using GLP-1’s for weight loss without considering possible risks and side effects. One consideration when taking ANY medication is what side effects the medication may cause. GLP-1 agonists commonly cause gastrointestinal side effects such as bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, and nausea. Aside from side effects, a lot of people using GLP-1 agonists do not realize that these medications are intended for long term use, like FOR-EV-ER (Sandlot style).
What I’m concerned about is the number of people who start GLP-1 agonists for weight loss, lose the weight, go off of the medication, AND…….yup, you guessed it! They gain weight back eventually. Unless you are working on lifestyle changes including following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise, this is the likely outcome you will get when you break up with your GLP-1 medication. So, unless you are willing to say “I do” to your GLP-1 or put in the work with nutrition and exercise, I would think twice before starting this type of medication.
Check out THIS ARTICLE for more information from the FDA on concerns related to unapproved use of GLP-1 agonists.