Weight Loss Drugs No 'Magic Bullet:' A Doctor's Perspective
The recent development of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy has led to enthusiastic coverage in the news media. That said, they are not without their drawbacks. And whether it's side effects like nausea or the high financial cost, it's increasingly clear that these medications are no panacea.
At Whole Health Partners, we firmly believe that any medication will be most effective when accompanied by a sustainable plan for healthy behaviors and lifestyle change. And we're not the only ones saying this.
Behavior Change and Medicine Go Hand-in-Hand
A recent article for NPR by Lisa Doggett—a family and lifestyle medicine physician at UT Health Austin's Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center—does an excellent job of making this case.
Entitled Weight-loss drugs aren't a magic bullet. Lifestyle changes are key to lasting health, the article sets out both the benefits and drawbacks of weight loss drugs, and also explains how important it is for lifestyle medicine to be applied alongside medication:
““Lifestyle medicine is cheap and low risk. Its proven benefits extend far beyond weight loss and can be lifelong. Those who make positive lifestyle decisions, including exercising, eating well and not smoking, may reduce their incidence of coronary artery disease by over 80% and Type 2 diabetes by more than 90%. They take fewer medications. They live longer and experience improved mental health and lower rates of cancer, chronic disease and disability””
Finding the Time for Behavior Change
Doggett also outlines how a lack of adequate training, knowledge and time means that lifestyle medicine interventions are not always given adequate support in traditional healthcare settings:
““In my years working in community clinics, I was routinely expected to see patients in 20-minute increments, leaving almost no opportunity to address lifestyle changes in a meaningful way. I might encourage patients with heart disease to eat more fruits and vegetables, but I didn’t have time to understand the underpinnings of their dietary choices, often influenced by a complex combination of culture, finances and personal preferences.” ”
That's why we believe that dedicated lifestyle medicine and behavior change clinics, like Whole Health Partners, are such an important part of the puzzle. Because we often see patients on a monthly, or even weekly, basis, we can focus our efforts squarely on sustainable behavior change.
We combine the latest research on food, movement and sleep with an in-depth understanding of behavioral science. We then work with both patients and their primary care providers to not just provide recommendations for what they should be doing—eating more vegetables, moving more regularly, sleeping more consistently etc—but to also develop a practical strategy for achieving and sustaining those changes.
(And, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, our services are covered by insurance—meaning most visits are covered at little to no cost to patients.)
As Doggett argues in her article, there is growing evidence that almost everyone could benefit from some form of lifestyle medicine intervention:
“According to the American Heart Association, fewer than 1% of U.S. adults and adolescents engage in all practices recommended to achieve ideal cardiovascular health, which includes most tenets of lifestyle medicine. New anti-obesity medicines are an important tool. But true health is not just about a number on the scale. Widespread adoption of the principles of lifestyle medicine would reduce healthcare costs, reverse recent declines in U.S. life expectancy and transform lives.”
At Whole Health Partners, we're working to make lifestyle medicine accessible to everybody. And we're delighted to see growing coverage of the benefits in mainstream media.
Whether you're currently on weight loss medications, you're considering them as an option, or you are just working toward some important health goals, we would love to work alongside you.
What would you like help with?
Weight Loss and Weight Maintenance
Blood Glucose Management, Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Thyroid Disease, Hormonal Health
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Perimenopause/Menopause
If you're looking for more guidance, check out our self-paced course.
