If you have struggled to lose weight or to keep it off, you are not alone. Weight management is rarely a simple matter of eating less and moving more.
Genetics, hormones, sleep, stress, medications and medical conditions all affect your weight. Understanding which of them apply to you is part of finding an approach that works.
Start with habits you can maintain
Healthy weight management does not require an extreme diet. Small, consistent changes are easier to keep.
Focus on balanced meals, enough protein, fiber-rich foods, regular activity and decent sleep. Cutting back on sugary drinks and heavily processed food helps too.
Even modest weight loss can improve blood pressure, blood sugar and other measures of metabolic health.
What about GLP-1 weight-loss medications?
Semaglutide, in medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic, acts on GLP-1 receptors to help regulate appetite and blood sugar.
Tirzepatide, in Zepbound and Mounjaro, works on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
Wegovy and Zepbound carry weight-management indications for eligible patients, while Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved for Type 2 diabetes. Some of these medications have further approved uses.
They can produce meaningful weight loss, but they do not suit everyone. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Your prescriber should weigh your medical history, your goals and the risks before starting one.
Maintaining weight loss matters too
Losing weight is only part of it. Keeping the progress takes continued attention to nutrition, activity and general health.
Weight can return after stopping a GLP-1 medication, and some patients do better on longer-term treatment. The goal is better health, not a lower number on the scale.
Questions about GLP-1 medications, semaglutide, tirzepatide or weight management? Our pharmacy team can go through how a medication is taken, what side effects to expect and what to watch for.
Your Health. Our Priority.
More on our website
This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting, stopping or changing any medication or supplement.