Medical weight loss is a supervised, evidence-based program designed by healthcare professionals (doctors, dietitians) to help individuals lose weight through customized nutrition, lifestyle changes, and often FDA-approved medication. It addresses underlying biological, metabolic, and genetic factors, rather than relying on dieting alone.
Key Aspect of Medical Weight Loss
Personalized Planning: Programs are tailored to your medical history, body composition, and metabolic rate.
Medication Management: Doctors may prescribe medications, such as GLP-1 agonists (e.g., Wegovy, Saxenda) or appetite suppressants, to aid weight loss.
Behavioral Modification: Focuses on developing sustainable healthy habits, addressing emotional eating, and improving nutritional choices.
Professional Supervision: Regular check-ins and monitoring ensure safety, especially for individuals with underlying conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
Who it is For: Typically, individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher (or 27+ with comorbid conditions).
Mounjaro
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a once-weekly, self-administered subcutaneous injection that treats type 2 diabetes and aids in weight loss by acting as a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. It reduces appetite and slows digestion to improve blood sugar control. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain.
Mounjaro Uses and Benefits:
Type 2 Diabetes Management: It increases insulin levels, reduces glucose produced by the liver, and slows digestion to lower blood sugar.
Weight Loss:
It suppresses appetite, increases feelings of fullness, and can result in significant weight loss (up to 20% in some studies) when combined with diet and exercise.
Cardiovascular Health: Research indicates it may reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK
+4
Important Information:
Administration: It is a weekly injection, typically administered in the stomach, thigh, or upper arm.
Mechanism: Mounjaro is a dual agonist, acting on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors to regulate metabolism.
Side Effects: Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Distinction: In the UK, it is branded as Mounjaro for both, while in the US, the same medication is branded as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss.
Wegovy
Wegovy (semaglutide) is a once-weekly, FDA-approved injection for chronic weight management in adults and children (12+) with obesity or overweight, when paired with diet and exercise. It acts as a GLP-1 receptor agonist to reduce appetite. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation.
Uses of Wegovy
Weight Management: Approved for adults with a BMI
30
(obesity) or
27
(overweight) with at least one weight-related condition.
Adolescent Obesity: Used for teens aged 12 and older with an initial BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and gender.
Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: Reduces risk of death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity/overweight.
Weight Loss Maintenance: Helps maintain long-term weight loss when paired with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Metabolic Health: Aids in managing conditions like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
