Drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide have been around for years. They are the active ingredients in popular drugs known as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro have been around for years, but they’ve recently been making headlines due to a rise in popularity as weight loss agents. They all belong to a class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which mimic a hormone (GLP-1) in the body that helps control insulin and blood glucose levels and promotes feelings of fullness.
These drugs are extremely effective for blood glucose control and weight management, which, combined with their relatively limited side effect profile, makes them very appealing for diabetes treatment — the purpose for which they originally received FDA approval. They are now FDA approved for weight loss even in non diabetic patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher (obesity) or 27 kg/m2 or higher but less than 30 kg/m2 (overweight) who have at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Nevertheless, there is a growing worry sparked by celebrities and social media endorsing off-label weight loss methods. When physicians prescribe GLP-1RAs for their designated purposes, it’s not a quick fix. Various factors like dosages, expenses, side effects, and comparisons between different medications need to be carefully evaluated. That’s why it’s crucial to have a trained and qualified healthcare provider to support you throughout your weight loss journey.
The medication works by:
- Assisting your body in producing more insulin (the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels) as required
- Decreasing the production of sugar (glucose) by your liver
- Delaying the digestion of food, causing a longer period for your body to absorb sugar from meals
- Potentially decrease your appetite
The typical potential side effects may involve:
- Nausea and diarrhea (usually temporary)
- Stomach pains
- Constipation
- Reduced appetite
- Low blood sugar
- Headaches
Making healthier food choices
This table gives you guidance on replacing some foods with healthier choices.
| Limit these Foods | Replace with these Foods |
|---|---|
| sugar (white or brown), honey, glucose, fructose powder | artificial sweetener, such as Canderel®, Splenda®, Sweetex or Hermesetas |
| cereals coated in sugar or honey, such as Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, Frosties, Coco Pops or sweet oatmeal | high-fibre, unsweetened cereals, such as porridge oats, Fruit and Fibre, Weetabix, sugar-free muesli or Shredded Wheat |
| regular soft drinks, Nutrament malt drinks such as Supermalt, energy drinks such as Lucozade or Red Bull | water (still or sparkling), no added sugar, diet fizzy drinks |
| drinking chocolate, malted hot drinks such as Milo or Horlicks | low-calorie drinking chocolate, such as Options, Highlights or Ovaltine Light |
| sweets, chocolate, cake, ice cream | limit chocolate and cakes to special occasions (be aware that low-fat options may be high in sugar) |
| chocolate biscuits, jam or cream-filled biscuits | plain biscuits, such as rich tea, ginger nut or Hovis® biscuits (limit to 2 biscuits) |
| savory biscuits, such as butter puffs, Ritz crackers or Tuc crackers | plain crackers, water crackers, oat cakes, crisp breads such as Ryvita (use a low-fat spread) |
| dried fruit (limit to 1 tablespoon at a time) | fresh or frozen fruit |
| fruit, canned in syrup | fruit, canned in natural juice |
| fruit juice (limit any type of fruit juice to about 125ml a day) | no added sugar squash |
| fried food | grilled, poached, boiled or baked food |
| pastry, croissant | scone, currant bun, English muffin |
| coconut milk, coconut cream | semi-skimmed or skimmed milk (fresh, long-life or powdered) |
| salad cream, mayonnaise, coleslaw | low-fat French or vinaigrette dressing, vinegar, lemon juice, low calorie salad cream or mayonnaise (1 to 2 teaspoons) |
