Are weight-loss wonder drugs really the answer to achieving a beach-ready body?
Every year, as the summer holidays approach the term ‘beach-body’ hits the headlines and filters down to conversations online, and in coffee shops, clothes stores, and gyms.
As a health coach, all this ‘noise’ around ‘achieving the perfect body’ is hard to miss. My feeds are full of people sharing their latest weight-loss regimes from fasting, to detoxes, to never-tried-before fitness fads and must-have supplements, but this year, there’s a difference. A shift of interest towards new weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. Drugs which are putting people who use them without having good reason to, in hospital.
Doctors are so concerned about this growing trend they’re urging online pharmacies to stop selling them. And, as someone who works with patients who have been properly prescribed these medications and monitored by medical professionals whilst on them, I have much to say on the subject.
Why Wegovy?
My clients have been prescribed Ozempic or Wegovy by doctors who know their full medical history, and often after years of experimenting with various diets, medications and exercise programs without the desired results.
Most of them, alongside having issues with weight, are also either prediabetic, have type 2 diabetes, or hormone issues such as insulin resistance, or underactive thyroid. As appetite suppressants, these drugs can work wonders for patients with insulin resistance and are also extremely useful in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). I’ve seen the results for myself.
A weight-loss wonder drug?
From what I’ve witnessed so far, these drugs have been incredibly effective in reducing weight and ‘belly fat’. Clients say they’re “overjoyed”, “relieved”, “happier”, “more confident”, and admit that being on these drugs has been “life-changing”. One, who has been struggling for over six years since the birth of her daughter, finally believes she can manage her insulin resistance and lose weight. She’s looking forward to not wearing black on her family beach holiday, and is looking toned, and healthy, thanks to having more energy and focusing on Pilates and strength training.
Another, with type 2 diabetes and who, at fifty-one, is experiencing a growing list of perimenopausal symptoms, has been struggling to maintain a healthy weight. It’s been increasing year on year. She changed her diet before taking the medication and is finding it’s really helping her to stick to wholesome foods instead of reaching for quick-fix energy boosts and ultra-processed foods like she did before.
Not without risk
I’m sure you’re thinking, from what I’ve just said, that it’s little wonder people are choosing these weight-loss drugs as a quick fix to a summer body. It all sounds incredible, but there’s much more to it than that. Remember, the clients I’m talking about have serious health issues. Insulin resistance and diabetes are drivers for many chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart attacks, strokes and cancers. They are not something to be taken lightly.
Secondly, these drugs bring with them many side effects, some serious. They are, after all, appetite suppressants, so although you may go on holiday with your perfect beach body, you may be forced to skip the social side of your trip as meals out with family and friends may no longer be on your ‘menu’. Then there’s alcohol, which is much harder (if not impossible) to tolerate, that’s not to mention the migraines, sickness, dizziness and fatigue people have reported, with some saying that staying in bed and drinking lots of water is the only answer.
And then there’s the stigma and shame, with many people telling me they’ve stopped taking these weight-loss drugs because of negative reactions from people they’ve told. It’s hard to understand, but for some, the embarrassment and humiliation they feel from being unfit and overweight is preferable to admitting they’ve been prescribed and are taking these drugs, such is the controversy that surrounds them.
5 Things you should know…
If you believe these medications are for you, then this is what I suggest.
Consult a doctor or specialist who knows your medical history and can provide aftercare. You want someone who can regularly monitor your weight, waist, bone and muscle measurements, blood pressure, and other markers. This is essential to ensure the drugs are used safely and effectively.
Don’t buy your drugs from unregulated sources like online pharmacies or beauty salons. As I’ve said, this can lead to serious side effects and even hospitalisation.
Don’t think you can take the drugs and then eat whatever you want. Your aim should still be to improve your health, and that means less sugar and ultra-processed foods. There is no one correct diet or way of eating here. Know that your appetite is likely to change and alongside that, so may your tastes and enjoyment.
Personalised nutritional guidance is key. The diets I suggest for clients taking these medications are bespoke and based on their needs, tastes, and lifestyle.
Whilst you are losing fat, you will also be losing muscle mass and bone density. This is a big risk to your health as you age. Longevity is all about being strong, and that doesn’t mean thin. Weight-bearing activities that challenge your body with pushing and pulling movements are key. If your hormone levels are decreasing too, as is the case with menopausal women, then strength work is even more critical.
Consider the future ‘you’
As these drugs are relatively new, we don’t yet have data on what happens to people who take them as they age. We also don’t have a crystal ball to tell us what our future-selves will look or feel like, or the life we will be leading. With that in mind, and this is something I say to all my clients, we need to shift focus from a summer-ready beach-body, to achieving optimal health for the long term. The answer to this isn’t, for most people, medication, but a balance of healthy living, good nutrition, hydration, and self-care. So, instead of focusing on your body this month, or next, focus on making small changes today that last for all your tomorrows.
