If you are living with obesity and have been trying to lose weight, it can sometimes feel like an impossible challenge. Diet and exercise alone are often not sufficient or even possible for those who have been living with obesity for a long time. Weight-loss medications have emerged as a beacon of hope for those who have ‘tried everything’ to lose weight. But are weight loss medications a temporary fix or a long-term solution? In today’s blog we’ll find out.
Weight Loss Medications – what they are and how they work
Weight loss medications, when used under the guidance of a healthcare professional, can be a valuable tool to aid in weight loss. For someone living with obesity who has attempted other weight loss methods (dieting, exercise, intermittent fasting) without success, these weight loss medications can offer an alternative path before considering more invasive (or permanent) options such as bariatric surgery. They also offer opportunities to achieve more weight loss for patients who have had weight loss surgery and have plateaued or regained unwanted weight.
Weight loss medications come in different forms and work through various mechanisms, from appetite suppression to inhibiting fat absorption, assisting individuals in their journey to a healthier weight. They are not prescribed alone but as part of a holistic approach including a healthy diet and increased activity/exercise levels to be most effective.
Temporary Triumph
While weight loss medications can produce positive results during their administration, it’s important to acknowledge the transient nature of their effects. Many individuals experience initial success only to find that, when they stop taking the medication, the weight creeps back on. The hard truth is that without a fundamental shift in behaviour, relying solely on weight loss medications may not offer a lasting solution. Despite the fact that no-one wants to regain weight after stopping these medications, on average most people will regain >50% of the weight they have lost within a year.
There is also nothing ‘temporary’ about a medication if you have to take it long-term to achieve and maintain weight loss. These medications each come with potential side effects and risks that need to be considered by the individual to determine if they are suitable candidates.
The decision is a little easier for patients who have had previous weight-loss surgery. Because their stomach is no longer normal, their risk of weight regain is far less because they are protected against the return of their normal appetite by their previous surgery.
It is also important to note that currently in Australia, there have been supply chain issues with certain medications, meaning fulfilling prescriptions has become difficult for many. This in itself can cause issues because if you do not have access to the prescribed medication, you are at risk of regaining any weight lost.
The Power of Behavioral Change
Weight loss medications can act as a catalyst, jumpstarting the process, but it’s the changes in lifestyle, eating habits and physical activity that pave the way for sustained success. This is one of the reasons why bariatric surgery is so successful in achieving significant weight loss, as it helps a patient to fundamentally change their behaviours around eating over a longer period of time.
Weight Loss Medication – for those who have had bariatric surgery
Even with consistent healthy lifestyle changes (diet and exercise), some weight regain can and does occur in patients who have had bariatric surgery. While in some the weight regain is only minor, in others it is progressive which can be very disheartening. If someone is struggling to lose weight that they have regained through diet and exercise alone and are not having any success, weight loss medication is a potential option to help get them back on track and lose the extra kilos they regained.
In our clinical experience patients that regularly attend follow-ups with the team tend to regain less weight than those who don’t come back. If you’ve regained weight following your bariatric surgery, booking a follow-up appointment with your specialist is the first step; at Upper GI Surgery our specialists can discuss with you the potential option of weight loss medication as part of your treatment.
Weight Loss Medication – here to stay?
For those who are looking to live longer, healthier lives through weight loss, weight loss medications should be viewed as a stepping stone rather than a final destination. Medication can be a valuable aid for those who have exhausted other options, acting as a bridge to more sustainable changes.
The true key to long-term success lies in behavioural change, and for many, bariatric surgery provides the transformative experience needed to achieve significant weight loss that can be managed long-term.
If you would like to discuss your eligibility for weight loss medications, you can make an appointment with our Bariatric Care Specialist Dr Jennifer Matthei who will be happy to give you more information.
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