With the recent weigth-loss craze over the past several of years, you may have heard the terms GLP-1 agonist or semiglutide injections in conversations online, with friends, or perhaps with your doctor. What exactly do those terms mean and why are people able to loose weight easier than they had before? GLP is an abbreviation for Glucagon Like Peptide 1, which is a hormone. Hormones are small messenger molecules that are released from cells in one part of the body and travel and influence the behavior of cells somewhere else. In the case of GLP-1, it is released by cells in the small intestine and acts on the hypothalamus and paraventricular nucleus in the brain and cause you to feel full. Semiglutide is a term for these drugs that resemble GLP-1 in the body and mimic its effects. The two most common brand names for these drugs are Ozempic and Mounjaro.
People who use these drugs are able to feel full more quickly. People are then able to loose weight because they are eating less calories, therefore burning more stored energy and reducing their weight.
Along with increasing satiety, or feeling full, both GLP-1 and semiglutide slow gastric emptying. This means that the food you eat remains in the stomach longer and keeps you feeling full, helping you to eat less throughout the day. Another great result, right?
Unfortunately, there are a several negative side affects that occur when using these drugs. Keep in mind that the levels of semiglutide from injections are up to 1000 times higher than naturally occuring GLP-1 levels, and therefore have a very powerful effects. Two of them result from slowing gastric emptying, they are nausea and constipation. People will often rely on over the counter remedies like Miralax, Senna, Pepto Bismol or Dramamine to alleviate these symtpoms.
Another complication is that up to 40% of the weight loss people experience can come from lean muscle mass. Additionally, when it is time to go off these drugs your appetite returns and you run the risk of regaining all your lost weight. Typically the weight gain is mostly fat and not replacing lost muscle.
Research has not clearly defined why up to 40% of weight loss comes from muscle, but it may have to do with eating less without changing your macronutrient profile. Keeping a higher proportion of carbodydrates will still elevate insulin even though you are eating less calories. Insulin will direct the body to store fat and burn carbohydrate or glucose. When the body is still burning mostly glucose for energy and it doesn't have enough carbohydrate available it will break down muscle to turn into sugar and make energy.
What can you do if you are ready to wean off semiglutide or maybe try another option to loose weight?
Here is a few ideas to help you in your goal.
Reduce sugars and carbohydrates in what you eat. Review previous blogs that outline a fat burning macnronutient plan (links below) and begin adjusting what you are eating to be more inline with those percentages.
Keep hydrated. Sometimes dehydration can be interpreted as hunger pains.
Drink a tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water 15 minutes prior to eating to improve digestion and satiety.
Start a meal with fiber filled foods: either a salad, other vegetables, or even a fiber supplement will help you feel more full on less calories.
Take a probiotic supplement that includes a strain called Akkermansia muciniphila, a bacterium which produces GLP-1. When you eat fruits and vegetables, you feed and promote this bacteria.
All these tips help promote satiety naturally so you can eat less without feeling deprived. It can also help you wean off your semiglutide injections without dramatically increasing your appetitie. If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule you free initial consult with us, reach out to us today through this website.
Yours in Health,
Renee
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