I went to my doctor yesterday and she asked me how much I weigh. I told her I don't weigh myself and gave a rough estimate and she actually said that she thinks I'm doing it right because, overall, weight is not a good indicator for anything. I was really surprised. I wish she wouldn't ask for the weight at all, but that was a really positive experience.
That's such an awesome experience! My doctors growing up were the same - they said if there was a drastic change (up or down) without any conscious choices/differences in my life, they'd be concerned about cancer or hormonal issues, but that weight wasn't really an indicator of much beyond that and didn't mean anything on its own.
I’ll throw some industry info here that will help clarify why your doctor asked (assuming you’re in the US). :) It’s basically this: the Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS) requires healthcare providers to record some information for every patient, including BMI, in order to receive full reimbursement (which is still less than the cost of care for many Medicare/Medicaid patients, but that’s a separate discussion). These requirements apply to commercial/self-insured, basically all patients. In addition, where CMS goes, commercial insurers follow; many have added these same requirements (or similar) for healthcare providers to receive full reimbursement, as well. So, if I had to guess, I’d say your doctor is probably following standard protocols to make sure they actually get paid. 😉
I think I saw at least one other comment mention this, but as a point of clarification, the drug itself is actually approved for obesity/weight loss, but under a different brand name of Wegovy. It's actually just a higher dose than the dosage used under the Ozempic brand name. The name difference creates a lot of confusion, but it is the exact same drug. So it is approved for weight loss specifically, even in non-diabetics. My insurance covers Wegovy for non-diabetics with obesity, specifically for weight loss. I'm not on it, but am on a different, but similar medication called Saxenda, which has been amazing for me as a tool to help me do what I know I need to do to be healthier. I'm not diabetic, but struggle with obesity, and I was struggling to maintain weight loss I had previously accomplished without the medication. My appetite just caused me to have to "white knuckle" my way through life, and it just wasn't sustainable. Appetite is really a brain chemistry or hormone thing when it comes down to it, and not everyone experiences satiety in the same way. For those who struggle intensely with obesity and abnormal satiation, these medications are a huge blessing.
Yes, I definitely should have mentioned Wegovy as well since they’re both semaglutide. 100% my mistake omitting it. Regardless, I’m glad that you’ve found something that works for you!
Honestly what I find most frustrating about this is that, since the demand went up, the price and accessibility also changed. People that need this drug for various reasons (ex. The intended use) are not able to get it as easily and I think that’s horrible. Like you said this is a bigger conversation about the pharmaceutical industry but either way I do think that you know, the people that need this for its intended use should be prioritized.
I love your approach on this video! Truth be told I had a brief second of wanting to try Ozempic because of my life-long battle with weight-loss. Maybe 5 years ago I would have tried it, but this time I thought about my health, my healing journey and how anything that can potentially harm me in exchange for a couple of pounds lost is not worth it. And I would LOVE a video about BMI! I always thought it was too simplistic. Even at my skiniest, I was still considered overweight. Took me a body scan to convince me my muscles weigh more than my fat 😊
The BMI is simplistic, but it should never be used as the only measure of health. As a former fitness instructor myself, it always amazes me when i hear stories of doctors declaring someone as overweight, simply on the persons BMI. The BMI scale was intended too be used as a guide of population studies and is undoubtably flawed, it should never be used as the only measure of health, other means of fitness/health testing such as waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio and measuring bodyfat, using skinfold callipers for example. The most important measurement is body composition, you commented that your muscles weigh more than your fat, because muscle is denser, you could have a pound of steel and a pound of feathers, but you would need a lot of feathers. Maybe it would be more accurate to describe someone as overfat, rather than overweight, but then would people resent that?
Wegovy and Ozempic are essentially the same drug both contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but they are FDA approved for different indications. Ozempic is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is used for chronic weight management in adults who are overweight or obese with weight-related health issues. I felt like this statement may be important to people who are looking for treatment for obesity. Because the actual "drug" semaglutide has been approved...but under the brand name Wegovy. :)
I actually asked my doctor today about trying this and after talking to her we decided it’s absolutely not the right choice for me. I love the information in this!
Ozempic has been approved for weight loss for since 2021. It manufactured under the brand name Wegovy. Wegovy is manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company as Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, and is derived from the same active ingredient, Semaglutide.
I love how you reason also about this topic! The only thing which blows my mind that now because of the celebrities and tiktok etc "promoting" the demand on this drug is getting so high that people who need it for diabetes have difficulties to get it for their disease and health
I can understand the allure of an easy weight loss fix (especially as I’ve gotten older and grew up with rampant diet culture). That said, I HATE the idea of taking meds from someone who genuinely needs it, just to fit into a beauty standard that is unrealistic and ultimately unhealthy. Thanks for speaking out on this issue.
Excellent video as always Justina. I can see why some (especially celebrities) have jumped on this bandwagon - guaranteed weight loss without any effort - what’s not to like? Well, shortages in availability of this drug for diabetics because it’s been bought up by people for its aesthetic benefits is a good place to start. It’s a tool that can be very useful - for those who need to lose weight before they can have certain medical procedures, those struggling with fertility issues because of their weight - but not as a silver bullet that cures obesity. As you point out, unless the underlying psychological, physiological, social and environmental factors contributing to weight gain are addressed then the person ends up back at square one (or worse) when they come off the drug. There will always be celebrities without conscience promoting weight loss lollipops and the like - hopefully this won’t go the same way (but I’m not holding my breath!)
My husband is on Ozempic because he's type 2 diabetic. He improved some of his eating habits and has lost about 20 lbs. (I try not to lecture where I think he could do better.) Ozempic is reformulated as Wegovy which is FDA approved as a weight loss drug, but specifically for people with diabetes or if not diabetic -with high blood pressure or other medical issues that may improve with weight loss. It is not meant for the average Joe who wants to lose 10lbs. Part or the reason it works is because it slow the emptying of the stomach, making someone feel fuller and therefore eat less. If someone is still bingeing junk food and using this they could put weight on.
Basically, a totally hinged, completly reasonable and truly compassionate point of view. Life and health are both complex, and the nuance we need is often lost in the hype of things. Thank you again, for always being so balanced.
@justinaercole Thank you for this overall fair and informative video. I'm glad to see that at least one other commenter made mention of the fact that Ozempic actually is approved for weight loss alone under its rebranded name of Wegovy, though. I acknowledge that you didn't want this to turn into a discussion about pharmaceutical companies, but it is 100% necessary. The drug Mounjaro is currently following the same process--currently only FDA approved for T2 diabetes, but will be obtaining FDA approval for weight loss this summer. The drug companies are the cause of the shortages by timing their release of these drugs for different purposes to compete with one another, and it's gross. The rest of us, including those of us prescribed drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss and pre-diabetes, are left to take on the public's ridicule while the drug companies rake in the dough. It isn't fair and is extremely hurtful.
I'm so glad you are talking about this because when I first started seeing people talk about using it for weight loss, it just didn't feel right. In my opinion, medications like this shouldn't be prescribed to treat something it hasn't been approved for. And with the cost of it now rising because of the demand, it can make it that much more difficult for people who use it to treat diabetes to access it
Your takes were absolutely 🔥. The biggest and most unfair part of this is that diabetics who actually NEED the medication, now have to pay a higher price because the people who are using this for a fad, have increased the demand. Dam them. I am not diabetic, but I am conu about those who are.
Yes do the video on BMI! Every doctor I’ve ever been to has told me I was overweight regardless of what I actually looked like or complained about, and it has many times triggered my issues with food and “health.”
I was about to get put on Ozempic, I’ve had atypically high blood sugar since childhood and type 2 runs on one side of my family and in midlife my fasting glucose has been elevated. I’m glad I didn’t start the drug because I developed POTS literally that week and I don’t think any of those side effects would be bearable even briefly. I did start Metformin off label when an endocrinologist years ago said my BMI was too high and it could help with inflammation since I have a genetic disorder that makes it too high in my body. Luckily that is only about $3 a month. I have to take the extended release version though or else the side effects are too much. My longtime goal is to stop taking it, my sugars are still off but maybe someday…I’m in shock a doctor would tell a fit person to lose weight, everyone knows muscle weighs more than fat so the scale only means so much as a measurement!
This is so coincidental. I just had my annual check up and my doctor recently finished her weightloss courses (I think the nurses said she got a new certification & has been on a “weightloss high” since, not their words though). I got a list of weightloss drugs I could try since I’m having trouble with my over eating and I’m in the morbidly obese category still. She mentioned for some it’s a great motivator to kick start the healthier eating while on the flip side they don’t work for others. She also mentioned (like you did here) I would have to change my eating habits in order to keep the weight off after I stop taking the medications, as well. With all the scary side effects of these things, I feel like most people are better off not taking them ever. I don’t think I will.
Thank you for talking about this. My mom has type 2 diabetes and she has take this but it has caused some really bad side effects when she got on it. Then the demand was so high she couldn’t get it so when she got back on it she got really sick again and it led one thing to another. Lind story short I don’t think she will be taking it anymore. But I wish people understood the risk of these things. That the fact that so many people want it for weight loss they take it away from people like my mom that need it. And she can’t stay on it regularly so it causes bad side effects. Ok my rant is over.
Something that you touched on here that I find so important is that the weight loss associated with Ozempic is due to a reduction in consumption of foods (by regulating hormones associated with hunger, but also via side effects such as nausea that make people feel too ill to eat), not some magic increase in metabolic rate. As you often stress, we NEED food, our bodies need energy for the hundreds of processes they carry out every day. By taking a drug that leads you to drastically reduce your intake, yeah you'll lose weight but you'll also develop nutritional deficiencies that have real life long term impacts on your health. Those aren't listed as side effects, but they should be understood by anyone considering Ozempic for weight loss.
I believe it should be used as a tool but not something to fix anything. Like you said, if you don’t put in the work behind the scenes with your diet/exercise then when you end it, you’ll be quite disappointed.
so really late comment. I'm class II obese, but not type 2 diabetic. It feels like i'm making excuses but I hit a plateau for a solid year despite eating around 1800-2300 calories and working out 4-5 days a week (weight lifting and endurance cycling). Going on Wegovy (the reformulation of Ozembic approved for weight loss) has been incredibly helpful for getting past that plateau. I'm only on the early dosage (.5), which is where you're not losing weight as rapidly as when you hit the expected highest dose. i sometimes feel the appetite suppressant effects. But i also think the insulin aspect of it might be helping me the most right now. I do get the nausea from certain foods though, which is not fun. I honestly would not be on this drug, if just exorcising more and fixing my diet was enough. I can't imagine going on this for a quick 10lbs. Also i don't want surgery, so if this works as an alternative then I'm glad. There probably should be more nutrition counseling if you're on it for weight loss though.
So well framed and said! I think Americans always want a quick fix, so taking a shot to lose weight is easier than evaluating all the other things you mentioned: movement, veggies etc. I wish people would think more about movement and veggies as the path to better health than something quick.
Great video as always! Unfortunately the doctors are pushing this drug without thinking of the consequences. For example it has been shown that a big part of the weight loss comes from lean mass. Then if you stop taking it and as likely you gain the weight back you find yourself with a much worse body composition. I would love if the society would focus on promoting healthy habits (eating veggies and fruits, walking), instead of being lean. As you said, you can have some extra pounds and be perfectly healthy. And you can be skinny and very unhealthy (Gwyneth Paltrow????)
what kind of doctor would say you need to lose 5lbs?!?! that amount isn't even medically significant. I'm not a doctor, but I've trained with plenty of women who would fluctuate more than that based on their cycles. 5lbs won't fix any medical "needs" that I can think of.
Is it bad that your doctor visit story makes me want to go "undercover" and test doctors? It would be fascinating to set up multiple appointments and see the ways different doctors respond. (Ok, we're in a huge doctor shortage here, so I wouldn't waste their time like that but....temptinggggggggg!)
I'm always confused by people taking drugs to surpress appetite. I have terrible appetite, struggle to actually eat. I also have hypoglicemia (I overproduce insulin) and I'm overweight. I also have Hashimoto's and been struggling to lose weight for 20 years. I actual problem is that I don't break down fat much. When I work out I build muscle easily, but the fat stays on top of the muscle and I look huge and my weight goes into almost obese. I've been to so many doctors, but they just look at my labs, which are perfect, and have no idea why the fat doesn't go away. They usually claim I eat more than I actually do, because no one who eats as little as I do should be as fat as I am.
I can definitely understand how Ozempic could be really tempting to use, even despite the risks that you mentioned. I know it's really important to consider the health problems associated with being significantly overweight, but the ways that (at least in America) people demonize being overweight and value being thin at all costs... I can see why someone would want to do anything they could to get to a certain weight. It sucks!!! And I wish people who actually need Ozempic weren't struggling to get it right now 😕
This drug is literally just hitting europe and this week I had a lady ask me to give her a nutrition plan to help maintain good nutrition whilst she starts on Ozempic for weight loss. Her husband is a doctor and yet is still thinking of going ahead with it just for weight loss, she is not even massively overweight. It's hard not to place judgement as this is simply for aesthetic reasons. It's yet another route to quick fix for many people but I would hate to see what the long term impact of this drug is going to have. I had to tell her that she needs to get support from a registered dietitian, of which I am not.
Yes I read the weight regain studies with semaglutide and the evidence suggests that even those who DO stay on a healthy eating plan gain all of the weight back if they discontinue the medication. It is a forever thing, and the benefit to the person needs to be pretty high for that kind of risk!
Diabetes medications are notoriously expensive in this country. Call me crazy, but i believe medication should be prioritized for the people who need it in order to treat actual medical isdues.
Well...Wegovy has been approved for weight loss and it's the same as Ozempic. My doctortalked my into trying it. I was reluctant at first and I don't want to be responsible for a diabeticnot getting their medication. But it's time for extreme measure and I'm now pre-diabetic and don't want to wait until I'm a full blown diabetic.
I think the fact that it's not meant for weight loss is part of what made is "popular" online. A lot of people don't trust weight-loss drugs, but if it's for a more-serious condition, then it seems more legitimate. And people on social media aren't selling a trashy drug, just sharing a now-viral "hack". None of this makes it actually better for weight-loss, just more-likely to get promoted across certain media platforms.
Wegovy (semaglutide) is now approved by the FDA for weight loss. Ozempic is marketed for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy is marketed for weight loss. They both have the same active ingredient.
This! Not to mention that Ozempic has been around for years so it isn’t going to just now start giving people cancer like the other medication she mentioned. Ozempic and wegovy are literally the exact same medication and wegovy is a hundred percent approved for weight loss. It’s really kind of scary to me when people put themselves out there as having an opinion on stuff and spreading false misinformation.
Here is my experience and since you said in your video that you have zero judgement, I will offer you a positive story with this. I have always been a “medium”. Never big, never small - complete and total medium. My entire life I have exercised consistently and with variety. I’m in my late forties and I appreciate my level of physical fitness. I have a history of body dysmorphia and eating disorders. All the women in my family - both biological and in-laws are very thin so I stick out. They work very hard to be thin. I have considered myself more balanced. (For reference - I am 5’4” and while I don’t weigh myself I am consistently a size 6 pant and size M-L shirt) I eat very very balanced. Unfortunately for me, this balanced approach caused me to put on peri menopausal weight starting 7 years ago. And by putting on weight I was struggling to stay in a size 6/28 jeans. And I got chubby comments from the family. Even though I exercise 6 days a week and eat very balanced, whole food diet - I was putting on weight. So I started intermittent fasting. And I went very low carb. It shaved a little weight, but not noticeable. I did this for three years. I was a master at IF. No drinking alcohol, no sugar, no treats, no fast food Ever, nothing and I still was slightly chubby and so so frustrated. It’s hard to describe but when you come from a thin family and get “fat” comments -it’s hard. I can’t change my family, I can’t change my own body genetics. So I went into therapy. And worked on my brain for 1.5 years. I got to a fairly healthy place of acceptance, but it still really really really bothered me. Fast forward to January of this year I mentioned it to my hormone doctor about semiglutide and she readily offered to me a generic from a compounding pharmacy. It is about $100/month and I give myself the injections once a week. I started with a very low dose and currently only on the second to lowest dose. I went from a little chubby to a nice healthy looking size 4. I didn’t change what I was eating - I even have added a few more carbs back in the diet! I still IF because it’s part of my lifestyle. I exercise the same. I cannot tell you what changed that much in my life other than taking that injection of medicine once a week. It has completely changed everything. I am shocked. Now, I don’t think it would work because nothing has really “worked” in the past 7 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was low key insulin resistant and this medication has helped balance that out. I don’t know. But I think the combination of what I already had going for me - the fitness background, eating a whole food diet, and IF set me up for immediate and great success on this medication. And I know what the critics of diet culture say but it doesn’t matter to someone like me. I want to be a certain size that is healthy and appropriate for my frame. This medication helped me get there. I am happy with it.
I understand wanting or needing to lose weight for actual health. Im someone who has been told to for heart and blood pressure and Im pre-diabetic as well....but who wants to take anything they shouldnt be? Ill never understand it. I hardly want to take what Im Supposed to take.
not gonna lie, ozempic feels tempting to me. i have been struggling with hyperprolactinemia and arfid which doesn't make losing weight easy :/ my weight gets mentioned no matter what doctor i go to, i'm used to hearing 'i hope the next time i see you, you'll be lighter!' i was 175 in high school and school nurse was telling me that i should weigh 60kg tops 💀 i get why ortho is concerned that i'm fat but it's weird how the cure to all seems to be weight loss ... ozempic has so many side effects, like i don't think taking it without completely changing your eating habits and lifestyle is good choice. if someone relies on meds to lose weight... that's not sustainable :l
It's definitely really nuanced! Like any medication, there's always risks. So it comes down to deciding what's hurting your health more: your weight or the side effects.
When it comes to physical health, I prioritize body composition more than weight loss. I'm not against weight loss. But "weight loss" can involve losing more muscle versus fat, which I think isn't what people want. Don't people want to lose fat instead of muscle? That's why I'm not 100% pro-weight loss. So when I hear that someone has lost weight, I always think to myself, "What type of weight? Muscle, fat, or water?"
I’ve thought about asking my doctor about it 😬 it is hard to change eating habits when you do have so many cravings. My thought process is it can suppress the cravings while I work on my eating habits…. My doctor is going to put me in meds in I can’t bring my cholesterol down and I REALLY don’t want that.
Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are not drugs you go off of once you reach your goal. These drugs are like blood pressure drugs or insulin, once you are on them you stay on them for life but with these you move to a maintenance dose.
I'm struggling to understand how could your doctor possibly have recommended you to lose those pounds. Does your doctor know that you're this active and that you quite literally workout for a living? That you have a more than basic understanding of nutrition, and thus it's very likely that your diet is alright? I'm not American, so I was very surprised to hear that, apparently, your doctors just randomly bring up the weight argument. It doesn't make sense. To be completely honest, I did not trust those stories so frequently shared on social media until you said that your doctor did the same thing. Now I don't know what to think. How did you react?
I got a new doctor lol. But in the US there's something with insurance where they MUST bring up your weight or offer weight loss as an option. I don't know the specifics but it always comes down to insurance.
I started focusing on more strength workouts in the last few years and have seen gains in my muscle mass and weight. I suspect I'm healthier than I was when I was skinnier, and I'm certainly more functionally fit, yet a basic BMI calculator would say I'm borderline overweight because I'm short without knowing anything about my body composition, measurements, clothing sizes, daily movement, diet, etc.
Hey Justina! Found this video very educational, as I do with most but this one hits home. This past December my doctor put me on Saxsenda, which looks like it might be similar to Ozempic, which is a daily injection. It has helped me, brought down my cravings, I feel more satisfied with less food. I am eating three square meals a day, but I no longer go for 2nds or 3rds. I am also not eating between meals. I totally understand where you are coming from and agree with it not being a cure all, other positive habits need to come into play too, which I am working on. In this video you mentioned doing a video about myths of BMI, I would love to see that because according to all the charts out there the weight I would need to be to reach a "healthy" BMI seems unrealistic. Thanks for all you do!😊❤
I would love to see you do a video on BMI! I ignore any medical professional who cites that, ever since I was researching for a book on triathlons and found out where it came from. It was devised to study changes in populations overall as an anthropology tool, not individuals, medical professionals, actuaries, etc. (I'm guessing you already knew that!) Ooh, just saw the comment you're doing a BMI video in May - looking forward to it!
I think a lot of your thoughts are well thought out and I love all your other videos, but this video feels like a huge miss to me. To focus on 'its not approved for weight loss' while completely ignoring the existence of Wegovy(approved by FDA for weight loss in 2021) which is the exact same drug is really odd and presents half the information and skipping over essential info. Semaglutides ARE approved for weight loss, they're just two different drugs by the same manufacturer and marketed differently. I assume everything is well intentioned, but skipping over Wegovy makes all the "It's not even approved for weight loss" incorrect. (Edited to take out a sentence I thought came off a little accusatory which I don't' want to put out there) Lastly, I'm not on any weight loss medication, don't work in pharma either and usually love your videos, but wanted to speak up on this one as I feel it includes partial/bad info. Please don't hate me.
"Being in a bigger body" sounds like there is a smaller person trapped in fat, which is a common weight loss trope. We are our bodies, not "in" them, and some of these bodies are fat because some people are fat. Toeing around these words makes it seem like it's a terrible insult, a notion which ironically you usually make a great job at dispelling.
I apologize if I offended you. I disagree though. I am NOT my body. But again, I do apologize if my verbiage offended you. I am always learning so I appreciate you pointing out how my phrasing could possibly offend someone.
I agree with most of this except one thing. Morbid obesity is definitely an indicator of poor health, that's where the morbid part comes in. Maybe not now/immediately, but in due time it's a very strong predictor and risk factor. It's not being fatphobic to say that and to face this reality. I'm so tired of the HAES delusional belief that morbid obesity is totally healthy and fine. It's not. Although yes the BMI is a mess, but that doesn't mean obesity is safe or healthy.
Your last visit to the doctor reminds me of taking my cat to the vet one time and being told that he’s slightly overweight and should go on a diet. I started feeding him less food for a few days then thought, wtf am I doing? He’s perfectly fine! Cut to another time at the vet and another one telling me he’s just naturally a large cat and as long as he’s active, he doesn’t have any weight issues. It’s a silly story, but it always reminds me to not focus on weight or size as complete indicators of health. A doctor saying that to you is some utter bs lol
I am afraid that you are being a little bit disingenuous when you say that Ozempic has not been approved for weight loss. The drug that is branded Ozempic is called Semaglutide and it is being marketed under the brand names Wegovy for weight loss. There have been many trials on this, and it is a game changer for those of us who have struggled to lose weight due to either type two diabetes or insulin resistance, etc. I find it very annoying that you obviously either have not done your homework or are deliberately trying to mislead your viewers. The new drug tirzepitide which has the brand name of Mounjaro has only been approved at this stage for type two diabetes, not Weightloss. Just wanted to set the record straight.
Sorry for the misunderstanding! But it seems like you’re not the people I’m talking about who are abusing this drug. I absolutely should have included that information, but I still believe in the message of the video. Taking this drug is a serious consideration that should only be done if absolutely necessary and under medical supervision.
Sorry but so much of what you’re saying is misleading. I’d encourage you to seek out obesity medicine specialists and endocrinologists who have written about semaglutide to learn more. I’ve found the “Docs Who Lift” podcast to be very informative. - What you state about ozempic only being FDA approved for diabetes is misleading. The active drug in ozempic is semaglutide. Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in Wegovy, which is specifically FDA approved for weight loss. Literally they are the same thing. (Only difference is that they come in different dosages). Ozempic was prescribed off label for weight loss by many doctors because wegovy was initially in short supply. - Semaglutide was specifically approved to be used along side a nutrition and exercise program. Doctors who prescribe it counsel patients on this. Many patients who are on it work with RDs. - Obesity is a complex disease and obese patients are not using semaglutide as a quick weight loss fix. - Yes, some patients will have to be on it for life. Similar to how people with high blood pressure will have to be on a statin indefinitely. - GLP agonists have been around for 10 years and many studies have been done on them, both for weight loss and blood sugar control. - It’s easy to scare monger about the side effects of drugs. In reality most people experience none or very mild effects. - I’m a former bulimic. My experience being on semaglutide is that instead of constantly battling feelings of hunger and wanting to binge all day long (even after eating a well rounded, adequate diet) …now I just feel normal. The “chatter” is gone. I’m not binging and purging any longer. The drug has helped me become more in tune with hunger cues. I’ve talked to many other people with similar EDs who report the same. Contrary to what many people are saying, semaglutide doesn’t kill your appetite - it regulates it. I’d also encourage you to join an online group for people on semaglutide to get the perspective of people who’ve actually taken it. Many have had their lives transformed.
I went to my doctor yesterday and she asked me how much I weigh. I told her I don't weigh myself and gave a rough estimate and she actually said that she thinks I'm doing it right because, overall, weight is not a good indicator for anything. I was really surprised. I wish she wouldn't ask for the weight at all, but that was a really positive experience.
Wow what a great doctor!
That's such an awesome experience! My doctors growing up were the same - they said if there was a drastic change (up or down) without any conscious choices/differences in my life, they'd be concerned about cancer or hormonal issues, but that weight wasn't really an indicator of much beyond that and didn't mean anything on its own.
I’ll throw some industry info here that will help clarify why your doctor asked (assuming you’re in the US). :) It’s basically this: the Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS) requires healthcare providers to record some information for every patient, including BMI, in order to receive full reimbursement (which is still less than the cost of care for many Medicare/Medicaid patients, but that’s a separate discussion). These requirements apply to commercial/self-insured, basically all patients. In addition, where CMS goes, commercial insurers follow; many have added these same requirements (or similar) for healthcare providers to receive full reimbursement, as well. So, if I had to guess, I’d say your doctor is probably following standard protocols to make sure they actually get paid. 😉
I think I saw at least one other comment mention this, but as a point of clarification, the drug itself is actually approved for obesity/weight loss, but under a different brand name of Wegovy. It's actually just a higher dose than the dosage used under the Ozempic brand name. The name difference creates a lot of confusion, but it is the exact same drug. So it is approved for weight loss specifically, even in non-diabetics. My insurance covers Wegovy for non-diabetics with obesity, specifically for weight loss. I'm not on it, but am on a different, but similar medication called Saxenda, which has been amazing for me as a tool to help me do what I know I need to do to be healthier. I'm not diabetic, but struggle with obesity, and I was struggling to maintain weight loss I had previously accomplished without the medication. My appetite just caused me to have to "white knuckle" my way through life, and it just wasn't sustainable. Appetite is really a brain chemistry or hormone thing when it comes down to it, and not everyone experiences satiety in the same way. For those who struggle intensely with obesity and abnormal satiation, these medications are a huge blessing.
Yes, I definitely should have mentioned Wegovy as well since they’re both semaglutide. 100% my mistake omitting it. Regardless, I’m glad that you’ve found something that works for you!
Honestly what I find most frustrating about this is that, since the demand went up, the price and accessibility also changed. People that need this drug for various reasons (ex. The intended use) are not able to get it as easily and I think that’s horrible. Like you said this is a bigger conversation about the pharmaceutical industry but either way I do think that you know, the people that need this for its intended use should be prioritized.
Yessss absolutely
I love your approach on this video! Truth be told I had a brief second of wanting to try Ozempic because of my life-long battle with weight-loss. Maybe 5 years ago I would have tried it, but this time I thought about my health, my healing journey and how anything that can potentially harm me in exchange for a couple of pounds lost is not worth it.
And I would LOVE a video about BMI! I always thought it was too simplistic. Even at my skiniest, I was still considered overweight. Took me a body scan to convince me my muscles weigh more than my fat 😊
I don’t blame you at all for considering it! And a video about BMI is coming in May 😊
The BMI is simplistic, but it should never be used as the only measure of health. As a former fitness instructor myself, it always amazes me when i hear stories of doctors declaring someone as overweight, simply on the persons BMI. The BMI scale was intended too be used as a guide of population studies and is undoubtably flawed, it should never be used as the only measure of health, other means of fitness/health testing such as waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio and measuring bodyfat, using skinfold callipers for example. The most important measurement is body composition, you commented that your muscles weigh more than your fat, because muscle is denser, you could have a pound of steel and a pound of feathers, but you would need a lot of feathers. Maybe it would be more accurate to describe someone as overfat, rather than overweight, but then would people resent that?
Wegovy and Ozempic are essentially the same drug both contain the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but they are FDA approved for different indications. Ozempic is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is used for chronic weight management in adults who are overweight or obese with weight-related health issues. I felt like this statement may be important to people who are looking for treatment for obesity. Because the actual "drug" semaglutide has been approved...but under the brand name Wegovy. :)
I actually asked my doctor today about trying this and after talking to her we decided it’s absolutely not the right choice for me.
I love the information in this!
Love that you had a convo with your doc!
You are the voice of reason. Watch all your videos, thanks for what you do.
Thank you for being here ❤️
Ozempic has been approved for weight loss for since 2021. It manufactured under the brand name Wegovy. Wegovy is manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company as Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, and is derived from the same active ingredient, Semaglutide.
I love how you reason also about this topic! The only thing which blows my mind that now because of the celebrities and tiktok etc "promoting" the demand on this drug is getting so high that people who need it for diabetes have difficulties to get it for their disease and health
Yeah that part is wild to me
I really hope that many people considering using this drug for weight loss see your video. It is very well done.
your channel is a breath of fresh air honestly...
Thank you!
I can understand the allure of an easy weight loss fix (especially as I’ve gotten older and grew up with rampant diet culture). That said, I HATE the idea of taking meds from someone who genuinely needs it, just to fit into a beauty standard that is unrealistic and ultimately unhealthy. Thanks for speaking out on this issue.
Yessss it’s the empathy for others!
Excellent video as always Justina. I can see why some (especially celebrities) have jumped on this bandwagon - guaranteed weight loss without any effort - what’s not to like? Well, shortages in availability of this drug for diabetics because it’s been bought up by people for its aesthetic benefits is a good place to start.
It’s a tool that can be very useful - for those who need to lose weight before they can have certain medical procedures, those struggling with fertility issues because of their weight - but not as a silver bullet that cures obesity.
As you point out, unless the underlying psychological, physiological, social and environmental factors contributing to weight gain are addressed then the person ends up back at square one (or worse) when they come off the drug.
There will always be celebrities without conscience promoting weight loss lollipops and the like - hopefully this won’t go the same way (but I’m not holding my breath!)
You’re spot on here!
THIS
BRB… binge watching your channel.
So glad I found you!
Great video as usual. 😊 Thanks for your honesty and Knowledge.
My husband is on Ozempic because he's type 2 diabetic. He improved some of his eating habits and has lost about 20 lbs. (I try not to lecture where I think he could do better.) Ozempic is reformulated as Wegovy which is FDA approved as a weight loss drug, but specifically for people with diabetes or if not diabetic -with high blood pressure or other medical issues that may improve with weight loss. It is not meant for the average Joe who wants to lose 10lbs. Part or the reason it works is because it slow the emptying of the stomach, making someone feel fuller and therefore eat less. If someone is still bingeing junk food and using this they could put weight on.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Basically, a totally hinged, completly reasonable and truly compassionate point of view. Life and health are both complex, and the nuance we need is often lost in the hype of things. Thank you again, for always being so balanced.
Aww thank you ❤️
@justinaercole Thank you for this overall fair and informative video. I'm glad to see that at least one other commenter made mention of the fact that Ozempic actually is approved for weight loss alone under its rebranded name of Wegovy, though. I acknowledge that you didn't want this to turn into a discussion about pharmaceutical companies, but it is 100% necessary. The drug Mounjaro is currently following the same process--currently only FDA approved for T2 diabetes, but will be obtaining FDA approval for weight loss this summer. The drug companies are the cause of the shortages by timing their release of these drugs for different purposes to compete with one another, and it's gross. The rest of us, including those of us prescribed drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro for weight loss and pre-diabetes, are left to take on the public's ridicule while the drug companies rake in the dough. It isn't fair and is extremely hurtful.
I'm so glad you are talking about this because when I first started seeing people talk about using it for weight loss, it just didn't feel right. In my opinion, medications like this shouldn't be prescribed to treat something it hasn't been approved for. And with the cost of it now rising because of the demand, it can make it that much more difficult for people who use it to treat diabetes to access it
It’s definitely something that people should really consider the pros and cons of.
Your takes were absolutely 🔥.
The biggest and most unfair part of this is that diabetics who actually NEED the medication, now have to pay a higher price because the people who are using this for a fad, have increased the demand.
Dam them. I am not diabetic, but I am conu about those who are.
Yes do the video on BMI! Every doctor I’ve ever been to has told me I was overweight regardless of what I actually looked like or complained about, and it has many times triggered my issues with food and “health.”
Coming in May!
@@JustinaErcole wooo!!
I was about to get put on Ozempic, I’ve had atypically high blood sugar since childhood and type 2 runs on one side of my family and in midlife my fasting glucose has been elevated. I’m glad I didn’t start the drug because I developed POTS literally that week and I don’t think any of those side effects would be bearable even briefly. I did start Metformin off label when an endocrinologist years ago said my BMI was too high and it could help with inflammation since I have a genetic disorder that makes it too high in my body. Luckily that is only about $3 a month. I have to take the extended release version though or else the side effects are too much. My longtime goal is to stop taking it, my sugars are still off but maybe someday…I’m in shock a doctor would tell a fit person to lose weight, everyone knows muscle weighs more than fat so the scale only means so much as a measurement!
Glad you’re working with a doctor to feel better ❤️
This is so coincidental. I just had my annual check up and my doctor recently finished her weightloss courses (I think the nurses said she got a new certification & has been on a “weightloss high” since, not their words though). I got a list of weightloss drugs I could try since I’m having trouble with my over eating and I’m in the morbidly obese category still. She mentioned for some it’s a great motivator to kick start the healthier eating while on the flip side they don’t work for others. She also mentioned (like you did here) I would have to change my eating habits in order to keep the weight off after I stop taking the medications, as well. With all the scary side effects of these things, I feel like most people are better off not taking them ever. I don’t think I will.
I never even knew this existed before have i been living under a rock
Great job being a voice of reason in the fitness jungle.
Thank you :)
Great informative video!
Thank you!
Thank you for talking about this. My mom has type 2 diabetes and she has take this but it has caused some really bad side effects when she got on it. Then the demand was so high she couldn’t get it so when she got back on it she got really sick again and it led one thing to another. Lind story short I don’t think she will be taking it anymore. But I wish people understood the risk of these things. That the fact that so many people want it for weight loss they take it away from people like my mom that need it. And she can’t stay on it regularly so it causes bad side effects. Ok my rant is over.
I’m so sorry to hear that ❤️
Something that you touched on here that I find so important is that the weight loss associated with Ozempic is due to a reduction in consumption of foods (by regulating hormones associated with hunger, but also via side effects such as nausea that make people feel too ill to eat), not some magic increase in metabolic rate. As you often stress, we NEED food, our bodies need energy for the hundreds of processes they carry out every day. By taking a drug that leads you to drastically reduce your intake, yeah you'll lose weight but you'll also develop nutritional deficiencies that have real life long term impacts on your health. Those aren't listed as side effects, but they should be understood by anyone considering Ozempic for weight loss.
100%!
I believe it should be used as a tool but not something to fix anything. Like you said, if you don’t put in the work behind the scenes with your diet/exercise then when you end it, you’ll be quite disappointed.
so really late comment. I'm class II obese, but not type 2 diabetic. It feels like i'm making excuses but I hit a plateau for a solid year despite eating around 1800-2300 calories and working out 4-5 days a week (weight lifting and endurance cycling). Going on Wegovy (the reformulation of Ozembic approved for weight loss) has been incredibly helpful for getting past that plateau.
I'm only on the early dosage (.5), which is where you're not losing weight as rapidly as when you hit the expected highest dose. i sometimes feel the appetite suppressant effects. But i also think the insulin aspect of it might be helping me the most right now. I do get the nausea from certain foods though, which is not fun.
I honestly would not be on this drug, if just exorcising more and fixing my diet was enough. I can't imagine going on this for a quick 10lbs. Also i don't want surgery, so if this works as an alternative then I'm glad. There probably should be more nutrition counseling if you're on it for weight loss though.
So well framed and said! I think Americans always want a quick fix, so taking a shot to lose weight is easier than evaluating all the other things you mentioned: movement, veggies etc. I wish people would think more about movement and veggies as the path to better health than something quick.
100%! And even if someone does great with all those things, they may still be in a larger body. We really need to look at health differently.
@@JustinaErcole agree!!!!
Great video as always! Unfortunately the doctors are pushing this drug without thinking of the consequences. For example it has been shown that a big part of the weight loss comes from lean mass. Then if you stop taking it and as likely you gain the weight back you find yourself with a much worse body composition. I would love if the society would focus on promoting healthy habits (eating veggies and fruits, walking), instead of being lean. As you said, you can have some extra pounds and be perfectly healthy. And you can be skinny and very unhealthy (Gwyneth Paltrow????)
Ooooh yes that’s so important to note!
Do the BMI video please! This is a great video.
Coming in May!
what kind of doctor would say you need to lose 5lbs?!?! that amount isn't even medically significant. I'm not a doctor, but I've trained with plenty of women who would fluctuate more than that based on their cycles. 5lbs won't fix any medical "needs" that I can think of.
I think a lot of it has to do with BMI and the need to mention weight management at check ups to receive insurance reimbursement.
Is it bad that your doctor visit story makes me want to go "undercover" and test doctors? It would be fascinating to set up multiple appointments and see the ways different doctors respond. (Ok, we're in a huge doctor shortage here, so I wouldn't waste their time like that but....temptinggggggggg!)
I'm always confused by people taking drugs to surpress appetite. I have terrible appetite, struggle to actually eat. I also have hypoglicemia (I overproduce insulin) and I'm overweight. I also have Hashimoto's and been struggling to lose weight for 20 years. I actual problem is that I don't break down fat much. When I work out I build muscle easily, but the fat stays on top of the muscle and I look huge and my weight goes into almost obese. I've been to so many doctors, but they just look at my labs, which are perfect, and have no idea why the fat doesn't go away. They usually claim I eat more than I actually do, because no one who eats as little as I do should be as fat as I am.
I can definitely understand how Ozempic could be really tempting to use, even despite the risks that you mentioned. I know it's really important to consider the health problems associated with being significantly overweight, but the ways that (at least in America) people demonize being overweight and value being thin at all costs... I can see why someone would want to do anything they could to get to a certain weight. It sucks!!! And I wish people who actually need Ozempic weren't struggling to get it right now 😕
100%!
This drug is literally just hitting europe and this week I had a lady ask me to give her a nutrition plan to help maintain good nutrition whilst she starts on Ozempic for weight loss. Her husband is a doctor and yet is still thinking of going ahead with it just for weight loss, she is not even massively overweight. It's hard not to place judgement as this is simply for aesthetic reasons. It's yet another route to quick fix for many people but I would hate to see what the long term impact of this drug is going to have.
I had to tell her that she needs to get support from a registered dietitian, of which I am not.
I definitely don’t place any judgment on them. Our modern society praises thin people so I completely understand the desire for a quick fix.
Yes I read the weight regain studies with semaglutide and the evidence suggests that even those who DO stay on a healthy eating plan gain all of the weight back if they discontinue the medication. It is a forever thing, and the benefit to the person needs to be pretty high for that kind of risk!
I think I read it’s like 2/3 of the weight returns for most. But yeah, it’s definitely a lifelong thing.
Diabetes medications are notoriously expensive in this country. Call me crazy, but i believe medication should be prioritized for the people who need it in order to treat actual medical isdues.
Well...Wegovy has been approved for weight loss and it's the same as Ozempic. My doctortalked my into trying it. I was reluctant at first and I don't want to be responsible for a diabeticnot getting their medication. But it's time for extreme measure and I'm now pre-diabetic and don't want to wait until I'm a full blown diabetic.
I’m glad you and your doctor found the best solution for you ❤️
Pleeeeease do a BMI vid!
Omg please please do a video on BMI!
Coming in May!
I think the fact that it's not meant for weight loss is part of what made is "popular" online. A lot of people don't trust weight-loss drugs, but if it's for a more-serious condition, then it seems more legitimate. And people on social media aren't selling a trashy drug, just sharing a now-viral "hack". None of this makes it actually better for weight-loss, just more-likely to get promoted across certain media platforms.
For sure!
Wegovy (semaglutide) is now approved by the FDA for weight loss. Ozempic is marketed for type 2 diabetes and Wegovy is marketed for weight loss. They both have the same active ingredient.
This! Not to mention that Ozempic has been around for years so it isn’t going to just now start giving people cancer like the other medication she mentioned. Ozempic and wegovy are literally the exact same medication and wegovy is a hundred percent approved for weight loss. It’s really kind of scary to me when people put themselves out there as having an opinion on stuff and spreading false misinformation.
Here is my experience and since you said in your video that you have zero judgement, I will offer you a positive story with this. I have always been a “medium”. Never big, never small - complete and total medium. My entire life I have exercised consistently and with variety. I’m in my late forties and I appreciate my level of physical fitness. I have a history of body dysmorphia and eating disorders. All the women in my family - both biological and in-laws are very thin so I stick out. They work very hard to be thin. I have considered myself more balanced. (For reference - I am 5’4” and while I don’t weigh myself I am consistently a size 6 pant and size M-L shirt) I eat very very balanced. Unfortunately for me, this balanced approach caused me to put on peri menopausal weight starting 7 years ago. And by putting on weight I was struggling to stay in a size 6/28 jeans. And I got chubby comments from the family. Even though I exercise 6 days a week and eat very balanced, whole food diet - I was putting on weight. So I started intermittent fasting. And I went very low carb. It shaved a little weight, but not noticeable. I did this for three years. I was a master at IF. No drinking alcohol, no sugar, no treats, no fast food Ever, nothing and I still was slightly chubby and so so frustrated. It’s hard to describe but when you come from a thin family and get “fat” comments -it’s hard. I can’t change my family, I can’t change my own body genetics. So I went into therapy. And worked on my brain for 1.5 years. I got to a fairly healthy place of acceptance, but it still really really really bothered me. Fast forward to January of this year I mentioned it to my hormone doctor about semiglutide and she readily offered to me a generic from a compounding pharmacy. It is about $100/month and I give myself the injections once a week. I started with a very low dose and currently only on the second to lowest dose. I went from a little chubby to a nice healthy looking size 4. I didn’t change what I was eating - I even have added a few more carbs back in the diet! I still IF because it’s part of my lifestyle. I exercise the same. I cannot tell you what changed that much in my life other than taking that injection of medicine once a week. It has completely changed everything. I am shocked. Now, I don’t think it would work because nothing has really “worked” in the past 7 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was low key insulin resistant and this medication has helped balance that out. I don’t know. But I think the combination of what I already had going for me - the fitness background, eating a whole food diet, and IF set me up for immediate and great success on this medication. And I know what the critics of diet culture say but it doesn’t matter to someone like me. I want to be a certain size that is healthy and appropriate for my frame. This medication helped me get there. I am happy with it.
I understand wanting or needing to lose weight for actual health. Im someone who has been told to for heart and blood pressure and Im pre-diabetic as well....but who wants to take anything they shouldnt be? Ill never understand it. I hardly want to take what Im Supposed to take.
Absolutely! It comes down to weighing the pros and cons, like with any medication.
not gonna lie, ozempic feels tempting to me. i have been struggling with hyperprolactinemia and arfid which doesn't make losing weight easy :/ my weight gets mentioned no matter what doctor i go to, i'm used to hearing 'i hope the next time i see you, you'll be lighter!' i was 175 in high school and school nurse was telling me that i should weigh 60kg tops 💀 i get why ortho is concerned that i'm fat but it's weird how the cure to all seems to be weight loss ... ozempic has so many side effects, like i don't think taking it without completely changing your eating habits and lifestyle is good choice. if someone relies on meds to lose weight... that's not sustainable :l
It's definitely really nuanced! Like any medication, there's always risks. So it comes down to deciding what's hurting your health more: your weight or the side effects.
Lots of chemotherapy drugs are approved to treat cancer and also cause weight loss, but using chemotherapy for weight loss would be nits
When it comes to physical health, I prioritize body composition more than weight loss. I'm not against weight loss. But "weight loss" can involve losing more muscle versus fat, which I think isn't what people want. Don't people want to lose fat instead of muscle? That's why I'm not 100% pro-weight loss. So when I hear that someone has lost weight, I always think to myself, "What type of weight? Muscle, fat, or water?"
100%
I’ve thought about asking my doctor about it 😬 it is hard to change eating habits when you do have so many cravings. My thought process is it can suppress the cravings while I work on my eating habits…. My doctor is going to put me in meds in I can’t bring my cholesterol down and I REALLY don’t want that.
Cravings can be SUPER challenging! I know you said you’re working with an RD, so hopefully they can help you with that :)
Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are not drugs you go off of once you reach your goal. These drugs are like blood pressure drugs or insulin, once you are on them you stay on them for life but with these you move to a maintenance dose.
To be honest. I haven’t used it myself (is diabetic type 2) because of this of these people using it for weight loss..
I'm struggling to understand how could your doctor possibly have recommended you to lose those pounds. Does your doctor know that you're this active and that you quite literally workout for a living? That you have a more than basic understanding of nutrition, and thus it's very likely that your diet is alright? I'm not American, so I was very surprised to hear that, apparently, your doctors just randomly bring up the weight argument. It doesn't make sense. To be completely honest, I did not trust those stories so frequently shared on social media until you said that your doctor did the same thing. Now I don't know what to think. How did you react?
I got a new doctor lol. But in the US there's something with insurance where they MUST bring up your weight or offer weight loss as an option. I don't know the specifics but it always comes down to insurance.
I started focusing on more strength workouts in the last few years and have seen gains in my muscle mass and weight. I suspect I'm healthier than I was when I was skinnier, and I'm certainly more functionally fit, yet a basic BMI calculator would say I'm borderline overweight because I'm short without knowing anything about my body composition, measurements, clothing sizes, daily movement, diet, etc.
Interesting video. I can't wrap my head around the doctor telling you to lose 5 lbs.
I got a new doctor lol
💯 agreed
😊
Hey Justina! Found this video very educational, as I do with most but this one hits home. This past December my doctor put me on Saxsenda, which looks like it might be similar to Ozempic, which is a daily injection. It has helped me, brought down my cravings, I feel more satisfied with less food. I am eating three square meals a day, but I no longer go for 2nds or 3rds. I am also not eating between meals. I totally understand where you are coming from and agree with it not being a cure all, other positive habits need to come into play too, which I am working on. In this video you mentioned doing a video about myths of BMI, I would love to see that because according to all the charts out there the weight I would need to be to reach a "healthy" BMI seems unrealistic. Thanks for all you do!😊❤
I would love to see you do a video on BMI! I ignore any medical professional who cites that, ever since I was researching for a book on triathlons and found out where it came from. It was devised to study changes in populations overall as an anthropology tool, not individuals, medical professionals, actuaries, etc. (I'm guessing you already knew that!) Ooh, just saw the comment you're doing a BMI video in May - looking forward to it!
Yessss any medical tool that can be manipulated by cutting off a limb doesn’t do it for me lol
Did you lose hair?
Hahahahahha no
I think a lot of your thoughts are well thought out and I love all your other videos, but this video feels like a huge miss to me. To focus on 'its not approved for weight loss' while completely ignoring the existence of Wegovy(approved by FDA for weight loss in 2021) which is the exact same drug is really odd and presents half the information and skipping over essential info. Semaglutides ARE approved for weight loss, they're just two different drugs by the same manufacturer and marketed differently. I assume everything is well intentioned, but skipping over Wegovy makes all the "It's not even approved for weight loss" incorrect. (Edited to take out a sentence I thought came off a little accusatory which I don't' want to put out there)
Lastly, I'm not on any weight loss medication, don't work in pharma either and usually love your videos, but wanted to speak up on this one as I feel it includes partial/bad info. Please don't hate me.
No hate at all! Thank you for the feedback.
"Being in a bigger body" sounds like there is a smaller person trapped in fat, which is a common weight loss trope. We are our bodies, not "in" them, and some of these bodies are fat because some people are fat. Toeing around these words makes it seem like it's a terrible insult, a notion which ironically you usually make a great job at dispelling.
I apologize if I offended you. I disagree though. I am NOT my body. But again, I do apologize if my verbiage offended you. I am always learning so I appreciate you pointing out how my phrasing could possibly offend someone.
I agree with most of this except one thing. Morbid obesity is definitely an indicator of poor health, that's where the morbid part comes in. Maybe not now/immediately, but in due time it's a very strong predictor and risk factor. It's not being fatphobic to say that and to face this reality. I'm so tired of the HAES delusional belief that morbid obesity is totally healthy and fine. It's not. Although yes the BMI is a mess, but that doesn't mean obesity is safe or healthy.
How do you define obesity though if you’re not using BMI?
Your last visit to the doctor reminds me of taking my cat to the vet one time and being told that he’s slightly overweight and should go on a diet. I started feeding him less food for a few days then thought, wtf am I doing? He’s perfectly fine! Cut to another time at the vet and another one telling me he’s just naturally a large cat and as long as he’s active, he doesn’t have any weight issues. It’s a silly story, but it always reminds me to not focus on weight or size as complete indicators of health. A doctor saying that to you is some utter bs lol
I got a new doctor lol
You obviously have never been overweight.
Define overweight.
@Gina White 💯
Not Kardashian-approved🤣🤣🤣I had no idea that's how Kim lost the weight to get into Marilyn's dress. They are horrible role models for young girls.
It's SPECULATED.....but come on. How else do you lose 21 pounds that quickly?
07:24 This is a massive generalization and not anecdotal. In your Vshred video, you state that lowering your metabolic rate is a myth.
What?!? Your doctor told you to lose 5 lbs? 5 lbs of extra weight is a not huge medical concern….IMO. Sorry girl. Time to find a new Dr maybe 🤔
I am afraid that you are being a little bit disingenuous when you say that Ozempic has not been approved for weight loss. The drug that is branded Ozempic is called Semaglutide and it is being marketed under the brand names Wegovy for weight loss. There have been many trials on this, and it is a game changer for those of us who have struggled to lose weight due to either type two diabetes or insulin resistance, etc. I find it very annoying that you obviously either have not done your homework or are deliberately trying to mislead your viewers. The new drug tirzepitide which has the brand name of Mounjaro has only been approved at this stage for type two diabetes, not Weightloss. Just wanted to set the record straight.
Sorry for the misunderstanding! But it seems like you’re not the people I’m talking about who are abusing this drug. I absolutely should have included that information, but I still believe in the message of the video. Taking this drug is a serious consideration that should only be done if absolutely necessary and under medical supervision.
Sorry but so much of what you’re saying is misleading. I’d encourage you to seek out obesity medicine specialists and endocrinologists who have written about semaglutide to learn more. I’ve found the “Docs Who Lift” podcast to be very informative.
- What you state about ozempic only being FDA approved for diabetes is misleading. The active drug in ozempic is semaglutide. Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in Wegovy, which is specifically FDA approved for weight loss. Literally they are the same thing. (Only difference is that they come in different dosages). Ozempic was prescribed off label for weight loss by many doctors because wegovy was initially in short supply.
- Semaglutide was specifically approved to be used along side a nutrition and exercise program. Doctors who prescribe it counsel patients on this. Many patients who are on it work with RDs.
- Obesity is a complex disease and obese patients are not using semaglutide as a quick weight loss fix.
- Yes, some patients will have to be on it for life. Similar to how people with high blood pressure will have to be on a statin indefinitely.
- GLP agonists have been around for 10 years and many studies have been done on them, both for weight loss and blood sugar control.
- It’s easy to scare monger about the side effects of drugs. In reality most people experience none or very mild effects.
- I’m a former bulimic. My experience being on semaglutide is that instead of constantly battling feelings of hunger and wanting to binge all day long (even after eating a well rounded, adequate diet) …now I just feel normal. The “chatter” is gone. I’m not binging and purging any longer. The drug has helped me become more in tune with hunger cues. I’ve talked to many other people with similar EDs who report the same. Contrary to what many people are saying, semaglutide doesn’t kill your appetite - it regulates it.
I’d also encourage you to join an online group for people on semaglutide to get the perspective of people who’ve actually taken it. Many have had their lives transformed.