Is Ozempic The Solution To Obesity?
Mindset Monday
Takeaway: Like the surgical interventions of the past, will Ozempic (and drugs like it) cure the obesity epidemic? It has its place, but it’s no miracle cure.
Is Ozempic a miracle cure for weight loss?
“Ozempic was originally developed to treat Type 2 diabetes. It—and similar drugs like Wegovy—suppress appetite and can help users lose ~15% of their body weight.”
There is a lot of research to show Ozempic’s effectiveness at promoting weight loss.
It drives these changes in a big way via a biological reduction in appetite.
As a fitness professional who has helped men and women lose weight for over a decade, I know that there is more to food than biological hunger.
Reasons we eat that have nothing to do with appetite:
Emotional Eating:
Social Influence
Environmental Cues
Habitual Eating
Celebration and Reward
Nostalgia
Mindless Eating
Availability of Food
Cultural and Social Norms
Food Advertising and Marketing
How will Ozempic resolve these challenges?
If you fail to address the psychological and behavioral changes that lead to a healthy lifestyle, then you risk becoming dependent on this drug—imprisoned by it—because the moment you stop taking it the weight will return.
It reminds me of the surgical interventions, like gastric bypass, that were popularized over a decade ago. They worked by surgically shrinking the stomach so that the individual could not eat near the same quantity of food as normal.
Yet, for many who didn’t change their eating habits or lifestyle, those surgeries didn’t work.
Can Ozempic (and drugs like it) help treat Type 2 diabetes and improve weight loss? The research suggests it can.
But it will not be a replacement for the work required to change your relationship with food and your overall lifestyle.
You’ll still need to do the work for long-term results.
~ Coach Alex
P.S. Are you currently taking Ozempic and have questions about promoting lifestyle changes too? Maybe you’re frustrated and considering Ozempic as the best solution? I’m happy to chat to help you come up with a game plan.
Click here to book a free weight loss strategy call now.
P.P.S. This is not meant to be medical advice. This content is for educational purposes only. Always consult your physician before making any medical decisions or taking any medications.