Who should take drugs with weight loss? Doctors share the best candidates

Weight loss drugs are still growing in popularity, and market researchers predict that global demand for medicines could reach $ 150 million by 2035.

GLP-1 agonists, including semaglutids such as Ozempic and Wegovy and Tirzepatids such as Mounjaro and Zepbound, are intended to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Recent studies, however, have linked these medicines to additional benefits, such as a reduction in heart disease and the risk of dementia, as doctors recommend them to an increasing number of patients.

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However, Yale’s recent research found that only 3% of eligible adults received a recipe.

Who should take drugs to lose weight?

Most adults who have obesity are good candidates for these medicines, according to Dr. John Anderson, an internal medicine doctor and diabetes specialist at the FRIST Clinic in Nashville, Tennessee.

“However, the most important group we want to approach is patients who have obesity alongside other comorbid conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and important osteoarthritis,” Anderson, who is also a member of the Diabetes Leadership Council, told Fox News Digital.

“Anyone who wants to lose weight that is obese is a good candidate, but from a medical point of view, we are more concerned with this population of higher risk patients.”

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To get involved in a weight loss drug, the patient must first work with a doctor to make lifestyle changes in diet, exercise, sleep and stress management, according to Dr. Michael Aziz, a board-certified internist and specialist in regenerative medicine based in New York City.

“A healthy and balanced diet with many vegetables and low sugar fruits should be the first step in weight loss,” Digital News told Fox.

“But some people, despite their best efforts, cannot lose weight. This might be related to the injuries that prevent them from working or slow metabolism.”

“In treating obesity above, we can prevent the progression of the disease.”

Insurance pays medicines to lose weight if the patient’s body mass index is over 27, according to Aziz.

(Patients are considered overweight if they have an BMI of 25 to 29.9 and are considered obese if the number is more than 30, according to national health institutes.)

Beyond high -risk groups, Anderson said he would like these medicines to be “available and affordable” for a large majority of patients affected by obesity.

“When dealing with obesity above, we can prevent the progression of the disease,” he said. “It has been shown that GLP-1 reduces the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes by 94%and significantly reduces the risk of large cardiovascular events.”

“Obesity is related to 200 comorbidities, including heart disease, kidney disease and 40% of all cancers, so it is key to addressing the disease.”

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According to Dr. Wiljon Beltre, patients should not be diabetic to benefit from GLP-1 medicine to lose weight, a bariatric and metabolic surgeon certified by the Board and the founder of Beltre Bariatrics in Orlando, Florida.

“I also agree that patients with lower obesity levels (BMI less than 30) can get great benefits of these medicines,” he told Fox News Digital.

“In fact, these patients may be excellent candidates for GLP-1 as they seem to lose weight faster and notify a change almost immediately.”

Benefits beyond obesity and diabetes

Several ongoing studies are exploring the use of medicines for weight loss to treat various conditions, such as alcoholism and addiction, Alzheimer’s and dementia, liver illnesses and more, according to Anderson.

“The way these medicines work is to slow down the stomach so that it feels more complete, but they also have comments on the center of the hunger’s appetite in the brain, which disables food noise,” he said.

“Experts from all over the country are finding that it also seems to reduce the desire for alcohol in patients, that their reward center is deactivating the desire for alcohol.”

It takes more research to confirm this effect, but Anderson said that these drugs could be “changing life” for those who fight against addiction.

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Aziz said that GLP-1 medications have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart and stroke attacks by 20%.

“They also help reverse a fatty liver and improve sleep apnea,” he added.

Risks and limitations

Diabetes and obesity drugs are well known who cause gastrointestinal problems in some patients, mainly nausea, with some vomiting, constipation and diarrhea.

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“Most occur when making a dose climbing and the vast majority are able to do it,” Anderson said. “This usually occurs in therapy and goes out over time.”

According to experts, patients with a family history of spinal cord thyroid cancer or pancreatitis should avoid these medicines. It is also recommended for pregnant women.

Some patients have also reported a loss of muscle mass, thinning of hair or spill, mood changes and other unwanted results.

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“People should understand that GLP-1 is not a magical solution to weight loss, but a leg of a three-legged stool; it must be combined with healthy eating habits and exercise,” said Beltre.

It is also important for patients to understand that these medicines cannot be taken forever, the doctor said.

“People should understand that GLP-1 is not a magical solution to weight loss, but a leg of a three-legged stool.”

However, many doctors report that the benefits of their patients exceed potential side effects.

“It is important to emphasize that many patients can now participate in activities for the first time in many years after significant weight loss: ice skating, walks, canceling knee substitutions and dropping blood pressure medicines,” said Anderson.

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Those interested in weight loss drugs must consult with a doctor to explore potential benefits and risks.