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Weight Loss Medication Side Effects: ER Visits Spike Due to Weight Loss Drugs
Certain weight loss drugs that were created as a treatment for Diabetes, have become one of the hottest weight loss drugs on the market thanks to celebrities using it. Weight loss will never be as simple as taking a pill/injecting a medication though, and there may be a few things you want to watch out for.
How do GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs work?
Ozempic and drugs like it help the pancreas to release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Our bodies produce a hormone called GLP-1 through our intestines and pancreas when we eat. GLP-1 releases insulin, which people with Diabetes don't make enough of, that reduces blood sugar. The original use of Ozempic was for Diabetes.
The other thing GLP-1 does is delay your gastric emptying (the rate at which your food empties from your stomach to your small intestine) so that you feel full for longer. It's this effect that has made drugs like Ozempic become so popular for weight loss.
Why can this be a problem? When people are obese, excess fat prevents insulin from getting to the cells. These weight loss drugs will encourage your pancreas to secrete more insulin, which could lead to even more insulin in your body that isn't getting properly used.
Ozempic Side Effects
Ozempic is a new drug that has just started being used off-label for weight loss. When it was originally trialed in people with Diabetes, the side effects listed were all digestive, including nausea, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Doctors are now reportedly witnessing a spike in ER admissions among users using it for weight loss. The side effects they have seen include blurred vision, kidney failure, pancreatitis, and gallstones.
What does that mean for you? If you are taking Ozempic and other drugs like it for weight loss, you are becoming a guinea pig because we don't know the long-term risks and side effects. If you think you can just get an injection and lose weight without making any lifestyle changes, you need to dig deeper and find the root cause instead.
Another thing to think about when considering Ozempic is that it isn't a long-term solution. Once you're off the medication your appetite will come back and you'll gain weight again. You need to find a way to lose weight AND keep it off.
GLP-1 Medication Alternatives
If you already know you aren't eating as healthy as you should be or exercising, start there first. If you feel like you've tried everything and medication your last option, I'm here to tell you there's more that can help. I've talked countless times about how your gut health is tied to your ability to lose weight. Ready to make a change? Click below to schedule a free 45-minute call with me.
World Health Organization Says Aspartame Is a Carcinogen
I've been advising my clients against artificial sugars for a long time now. When you eat something sweet, it signals your body to release insulin so that the sugar can be moved into cells and used. When you eat artificial sweeteners, you still release insulin, but it has nothing to do since there is no sugar, and that can lead to insulin resistance.
Now, the World Health Organization has declared that aspartame, known best as the sweetener used in Diet Coke, is a possible carcinogen. In my own practice, when people have quit drinking diet sodas, they've seen their eczema, migraines, and GI issues stop.
If you're still drinking diet soda, this is a wake-up call to stop!
Food Safety This Summer
With the 4th of July ahead of us, I also wanted to touch on food safety. There are over 128,000 hospitalizations every year for food poisoning and about 3,000 deaths. So while you may think of it as minor, you really need to take food safety seriously.
Remember: keep hot foods hot, keep cold foods cold, and when in doubt, throw it out!
