A Boost on Your Weight Loss Journey
Feeling the strain of inflation in pretty much every aspect of your life? You’re not the only one. From gas prices to the avocado shortage (not to mention the absurd cost of the in-flight WIFI I’m using), we are living in times of general increase. And our WAISTLINE is no exception.
Studies are emerging that indicate significant weight gain for many Americans in the last two years, likely induced by sedentary behavior and stress caused by the pandemic. As a nation, we were already struggling with obesity, affecting more than 2 in 5 adults according to 2017-2018 data collected by NHANES (National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey), and now there’s little doubt that the obesity prevalence will only keep climbing. In other words, the U.S. is experiencing yet another public health crisis. And the journey to weight loss can be a different struggle entirely.
Dr. Elizabeth Story, a family practice physician who provides concierge medical care in Fort Worth, sees numerous patients who express a desire to lose weight, and have tried, but were unsuccessful in their attempts. She knows firsthand that the most common and recommended methods of weight loss, diet and exercise, are not one-size-fits-all solutions, especially for her female patients. Story says that “even with drastic calorie reduction,” some of her patients are not seeing results that match their determined efforts. This stagnation in weight loss can be due to hormones, of course, but Story says there is a chemical component too.
“A lot of women who are menopausal or perimenopausal will have issues…but it’s also very metabolic,” said Story. And when it comes to traditional weight loss medications, she says there are very few on the market that target these various components while being “promising, effective and safe.” Until recently, that is.
Wegovy, or semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic, is an antidiabetic medication that was approved by the FDA in June of 2021 as a treatment for weight loss. The FDA describes it as a weekly “injection for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or [who are] overweight with at least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol), for use in addition to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.” Story, who proclaims to be “pretty conservative” when it comes to adopting new medicines, began prescribing Ozempic to her diabetic patients, and she took note of its efficacy, eventually expanding to her nondiabetic patients with a BMI above 30, an index within the obesity range.
Story says the medication works in three specific ways to target weight loss. “It keeps food in your system longer, so it slows gastric motility; it stimulates incretin, which is a hormone that tells your brain you’re full; and it indirectly stimulates insulin, so you don’t get low blood sugar.” Semaglutide is also well tolerated by most, with nausea being the main side effect, which Story has noticed is worse the day after an injection, and with every dose increase, but seems to subside over time. “I’ve had very few people who could not tolerate it altogether,” according to Story. While she has yet to conduct a practice-wide analysis, Story has patients who have averaged 10 to 20 pounds in weight loss, while some have lost upwards of 60 pounds. Of course, results are different for everyone, but she considers this medicine to be highly successful. If such a medication is so effective and safe, it does make you wonder why it’s not more prevalent, and Story says cost is to blame. But her practice works to make this medication financially accessible for its patients.
Since Story took over the practice from long-time physician Dr. James Bohnsack in early 2022, she has expanded to include a weight loss-focused membership for those who already have a primary care doctor. Patients interested in discussing concierge membership and addressing specific health needs such as weight loss and management can contact Dr. Story’s staff to schedule a free consultation.
For more information, click here or call 817-346-4000.