So by now, if you have ever been concerned about Type 2 Diabetes or your current body weight, you have come across in your web searches the “miracle drug” semaglutide. Perhaps by one of it’s many brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus. The drug itself has been around for over a decade but not approved for medical use until 2017. But the use of this medication to control body weight is becoming more and more popular as advertisements flood our televisions, smartphones and computer screens.

The truth is, that the rate of obesity not just in the United States but worldwide is at absolute epidemic numbers. So it is no surprise that the need to control our body weight and improve our health has become one of the most pressing concerns, and rightfully so! Obesity and obesity related disorders contribute to some of the biggest killers and diseases in the United States. These Include, but not limited to heart disease, cancers, and diabetes.

Most people that are trying to control their weight have been doing so for quite some time and have tried just about everything and in many cases, extreme exercise routines, fad diets, or expensive and dangerous surgeries. Anyone reading this article over the age of 30, can probably recall the protein diet, the cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, mini thins / ephedrine, etc., So the popularity of this new special pill is not a mystery.

But here is the problem. Obesity in almost every case is not a disease or a disorder in and of itself. It is the result of our poor diets full of processed foods and sugar, our habits, our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and the ever-rising use of medications. These are all at the core of the problem that contribute to inflammation in the gut and hormonal/chemical imbalances in the body that manifest themselves as excess body fat. So although it is not unbelievable to think that there might be some chemical component or medication that can slow that process or even to some degree reverse the normal metabolic function, should that really be something to consider? Especially knowing that the core of the problem is already absolute chemical imbalances due to what we ingest.

I have been working with patients and studying weight management for decades now. And I can say with certainty that “without education, habit changes and time, everything you try is just going to be another fad diet and lead to disappointment. So if your goal is to feel better, look more attractive to your partner, or just be able to function day to day without pain, then there has to be a healthier approach. My Hope is that anybody considering taking these medications to control their weight, as opposed to looking for a healthier more sustainable option, at least does a deep dive into the research.

1. Side effects. Pancreatitis, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation are just a few of the reported side effects. And these are not rare by any means… they are the norm. But if that does not sound like too much of a price to pay, also consider the diabetic retinopathy, kidney disorders and an increased risk of throat cancer are also associated with the use of the medication. Keep in mind that in order for this to work on our bodies, it has to interrupt some very major chemical pathways. Each of those pathways in turn, when disrupted will affect other normal functions.
2. Cost is generally a concern. Although the cost of manufacturing the drug has been reported to be about $5 per month. By the time it makes it to you, it can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars per month. So if you have 30, 40, 50 lbs or more that need to come off of your frame, this is going to be in the range of possibly tens of thousands of dollars over the year.
3. Sustainability. Things change, we know that prices typically go up, not down when a product becomes more popular on the open market. New research is going to continue surfacing, and mark my word on this, showing and proving the dangers and using any medication for long-term maintenance. Our body chemistry changes, our habits change our circumstances change.
4. Loss of Muscle Mass. Much of the weight loss during the usage of semaglutide products is actually Lean Muscle! Some studies suggest on average that 40% of the weight lost is muscle. There has also been some speculation that it could be as high as 70% in some cases. If health and appearance are a concern, than losing hard earned muscle is NOT the answer. That does not even take into consideration the damage this does to our liver and kidneys
5. Habit changes. This is the key and can be the toughest one, especially without any real education or accountability. The truth is whatever your habits were that caused you to gain the weight, will always give you those same results unless you change them long term! This is true for any dietary changes, programs or medications. So if you are going to have to make the changes anyways, why not do it in a safe and healthy and science based manner