Welcome to our Obesity Resource Center, a dedicated hub committed to fostering understanding, support, and effective solutions for those navigating the challenges associated with obesity.
We extend a warm embrace to everyone seeking information, guidance, and a sense of community in their journey towards improved health.
Explore a wealth of resources, from expert insights to practical tips, tailored to empower you on the path to managing and overcoming obesity. Together, let’s embark on a journey towards a healthier and more fulfilling life.
Interested in diabetes drugs for weight loss? Eight reasons to think carefully before starting semaglutide injections, also known as Wegovy or Ozempic.
Wegovy vs. Ozempic? Should you consider new diabetes drugs for weight loss or skip medications and stay fit? It’s vital to know that the newest weight loss drugs are extremely expensive, and most insurance companies do not cover them. If you’re interested in losing weight, perhaps your ears perked up when Jimmy Kimmel cracked a joke during his opening monologue at this year’s Academy Awards.
“Everybody looks so great,” Kimmel said. “When I look around this room, I can’t help but wonder ‘Is Ozempic right for me?’”
Or maybe you took note when Elon Musk tweeted about Wegovy as his magical weight loss method.
What are Ozempic and Wegovy, and if they’re working so well for Hollywood stars and social media influencers, should I think about trying these weight loss drugs?
Before you race to your doctor to get a prescription, it’s vital to consider the fine print for the medications.
While there are reasons to be cautious about the newest drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy are helping many people lose considerable weight — about 12% of body mass, on average — which can dramatically improve a person’s health.
And for decades, leading medical experts blamed people who were overweight or obese for the extra pounds they were carrying without giving them much help or considering the physiological causes for weight gain. Some blamed obesity on simple math: “Overweight people simply needed to eat less and move more.”
While sedentary lifestyles and consumption of high-calorie, processed foods most certainly have boosted obesity rates in the U.S. and around the world, experts have learned much more in recent years about genetic causes for weight gain. Some people’s bodies may, in fact, want them to pack on fat. So, drugs that dramatically reduce appetite and help people lose significant pounds, may be a game changer.
To get answers to your questions, we consulted with Dr. Cecilia Low Wang, a UCHealth expert in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.
Low Wang is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on the Anschutz Medical Campus. And she chairs the committee that advises the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on drugs related to endocrinology and metabolism.
The FDA approved Wegovy in June of 2021, marking the first time since 2014 that federal health authorities had given the green light to a new weight loss drug.
(Low Wong’s views do not represent those of the FDA or the FDA Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee.)
It’s correct that Wegovy and Ozempic are two names for the same drug: semaglutide. Ozempic is the name of the drug as prescribed for people with diabetes. The FDA approved Ozempic for people with diabetes in 2017 and approved Wegovy for people who have obesity or are overweight and have additional health problems in 2021.
“They are just prescribed under different names with slightly different doses and different indications,” Low Wang said. “The drug product itself is the same.”
The drugs decrease appetite and slow down emptying of the stomach so people feel less hungry and eat less. They can cause some unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects.
Under the FDA authorization, Wegovy is supposed to be used for people who are obese or overweight. Those who have a body mass index (or BMI) of 30 or greater are eligible along with those who have a BMI of 27 or greater who also have other health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol that make weight loss important.
In reality, some people who do not have obesity or weight-related health conditions have been saying that they’re using Wegovy or Ozempic to drop 10 pounds and “get skinny.”
Yes. The FDA has approved Wegovy for some children and teens ages 12 and older who are dealing with obesity.
FDA officials approved Ozempic for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Wegovy and Ozempic mimic a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which targets areas of the brain that regulate appetite, according to the FDA authorization.
In the U.S., about 70% of adults are obese or overweight, and many have serious health problems that put them at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer.
“Losing 5% to 10% of body weight through diet and exercise has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in adults,” Dr. John Sharretts of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said when the FDA approved Wegovy.
Gastrointestinal problems are the most common side effects since Wegovy can slow down people’s digestive systems. During clinical trials, some participants experienced nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue, indigestion, dizziness, bloating and gas.
In Low Wang’s opinion, yes, it was wise for the FDA to authorize Wegovy for people who truly need to lose weight.
Along with persuasive data about weight loss, Low Wang said there is evidence that people with Type 2 diabetes who take Ozempic can improve their cardiovascular health.
“A 5-to-7% weight loss, for example, can significantly lower blood pressure,” Low Wang said.
Cardiovascular risk factors improve in people with obesity or overweight who take Wegovy, but evidence for cardiovascular risk will have to wait until later in 2023 when the SELECT trial is completed. (Learn more about the clinical trial.)
Yes. As with many chronic conditions, most people who use the drugs for diabetes or weight loss will need to keep taking them to keep benefiting from them.
“Sometimes people can decrease or eliminate the need for chronic medications through significant lifestyle changes,” Low Wang said.
Of course, that takes work and commitment.
“Depending on your individual situation, and without sustained lifestyle changes, it is likely you would need to be on these medications indefinitely to maintain weight loss,” Low Wang said.
Using Ozempic or Wegovy without insurance coverage can cost more than $15,000 a year.
That’s causing some challenges for doctors and patients.
So far, many of the people who are publicly discussing using the medications are wealthy individuals for whom cost is not a problem.
“And my sense is that many people posting on social media are using these drugs but don’t meet the medical criteria for using them,” Low Wang said.
“The cost really affects access. That’s a huge issue related to health equity,” she said.
Here are the criteria for use of Wegovy (meaning it’s meant for you, and health insurance plans might pay for the prescription).
If your body mass index, or BMI, is 30 or above, then you are eligible. If your BMI is 27 or higher and you have additional health risks, then you’re eligible to get a prescription for Wegovy, Low Wang said.
If you don’t meet those criteria, Low Wang said you would be using the medications “off-label,” or not as the FDA has approved them. This is OK if your health care provider feels the drug is necessary for you, but not if Wegovy is being prescribed by someone who is not one of your providers.
She said insurance plans do tend to cover these drugs for people with Type 2 diabetes.
Yes. It’s true that the medications come as injectables, although there is one pill form. (See more information about that below.)
“Wegovy and Ozempic are injected once a week,” Low Wang said. “So that can be a challenge for anyone who is absolutely against all injections. But because you only need to do the injection once a week, I think it’s doable for many people.”
There is a tablet form of semaglutide. It’s called Rybelsus and is for people with Type 2 diabetes. Patients need to take one tablet every day.
People who have uncontrolled diabetes can get retinopathy, a complication that involves damage to blood vessels in the eyes, and can result in vision loss or blindness.
During the clinical trials for Ozempic, a small percentage of study volunteers developed new or worsening retinopathy.
“There was an almost three-fold increase in the rate of people getting retinopathy when they were placed on Ozempic (semaglutide) as compared to those who were not receiving Ozempic,” Low Wang said. “This was the relative risk, not absolute risk, but it is still concerning. However, it occurred in a small percentage of people.”
People who have retinopathy should talk with their health care providers before starting Ozempic or Wegovy. And patients also should have a thorough eye exam and regular follow-up eye exams.
People may be at increased risk for pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas often caused by gall stones, alcohol use or high triglycerides.
“We generally do not use this class of medicines if someone has a history of pancreatitis,” Low Wang said.
If you have a history of MEN2 (multiple endocrine neoplasia 2) or medullary thyroid cancer, you should not take Ozempic or Wegovy.
“As with any drug, you always have to weigh the benefits and risks,” Low Wang said. “Even though this can be an amazing drug for many people, each person is unique and you need to make an informed decision.”
“We know that if you start out with very uncontrolled diabetes and you have underlying retinopathy, if you lower the A1C (estimated blood sugar levels) too quickly, you have a higher risk of worsening retinopathy,” Low Wang said.
That’s one reason that it’s really important to discuss weight loss drugs with your primary care provider and specialists who focus on both eye care and common conditions like diabetes so you can make good decisions.
Many people skip annual eye exams and some who are at risk of kidney disease — like those with diabetes and high blood pressure — don’t get essential blood and urine tests. Having a full health picture is vital for safe use of weight loss drugs.
“Yes, these are potentially awesome medications that can lead to dramatic weight loss, but people need to be committed to following up with their ophthalmologist (eye doctor) regularly,” Low Wang said.
No, they don’t need to be tapered before stopping, Low Wang said.
“You can always choose to stop the medications, but it’s important to know that you will have a very high risk of regaining lost weight and worsening diabetes control,” she said. “These medications are like others. Whatever you were treating is likely to recur.”
Yes. Low Wang said the medical community has learned a great deal in recent years about genetic causes for obesity.
“As with many medical conditions, especially chronic conditions, there’s a genetic component and an environmental component. In the past, many people mistakenly thought that weight gain was all environmental, and it’s not,” Low Wang said.
“What we’re trying to do now is to address the end goal: decreased weight that can lead to better health,” she said.
“We’re acknowledging the physiology that is dysregulated and contributes to excess weight for people with obesity or who are overweight. And the newer weight loss medications are able to address this.”
Finding the exact genetic causes for weight gain has proven to be challenging, Low Wang said.
“For most people, it’s not a single-gene disorder. There are multiple genes that affect appetite, hunger, fullness and metabolism,” Low Wang said.
In addition, individuals have different microbiomes and different metabolic set points, all of which affect weight and weight gain. Furthermore, researchers don’t yet fully understand the connection between the brain and the gut.
“It’s extremely complex. We’re learning a lot, but there is a lot more to learn, and the causes for obesity are definitely multifactorial, including social determinants of health and the built environment,” Low Wang said.
“I do,” Low Wang said. She’d like to see insurance coverage that fosters long-term good health for patients.
“These drugs could prevent health problems down the line,” she said.
“For example, if a person with diabetes reduces their weight by 15% or so, that can be enough to cause diabetes remission. That’s huge because we know that Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased risk of heart attacks and strokes,” Low Wang said.
Reduced weight can also help with lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels and a reduction in fatty liver disease.
“Right now, fatty liver is the leading cause of cirrhosis,” Low Wang said.
Many people mistakenly think alcohol consumption is the leading case of cirrhosis. In fact, fatty liver disease is a bigger driver of cirrhosis.
“And weight loss treats that,” Low Wang said.
Yes, there are other medications called Jardiance, Farxiga, and Invokana that are used to treat diabetes, but can also cause weight loss. They are what are known as SGLT2 inhibitors.
Patients who qualify also can consider bariatric surgery.
Or if people don’t want to take drugs indefinitely, there are other options.
“We have non-medication weight loss strategies. The specialists at the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center are terrific and can discuss other options with you,” Low Wang said.
To minimize gastrointestinal side effects, Low Wang said patients need to start with the lowest level dose and stay on that dose for about four weeks before moving to a higher dose.
“That minimizes side effects like nausea, bloating, diarrhea and overall gastrointestinal upset,” Low Wang said.
Dose titration means that a person starts with a less powerful dose, then builds up to the goal dose, which is a higher dose.
Yes. Low Wang said it’s common for patients to stop taking the medications because they don’t like the adverse effects.
“About one in five people might stop because they are experiencing bad side effects,” she said.
“I encourage some patients to stay at the lower dose level for a longer period of time to see if they can tolerate it better and still get some benefit from the medication. Or if they don’t tolerate this medication, we might try a different one,” Low Wang said.
Low Wang said she’s not hearing that concern from her patients. But she understands why some people could feel that way.
“It’s probably because of the degree of weight loss. It can be pretty quick and dramatic,” she said.
“Most people are pleased. Some aren’t used to the decreased appetite. But of those who are able to tolerate the medications, most have been happy with the effects,” Low Wang said.
“See your health care provider. Be aware of the side effects. And the costs may be an issue. It’s not just for one year. The cost is a long term issue unless insurance plans start covering these medications for everyone who needs them,” Low Wang said.
She is eager to help her patients with diabetes learn about ways to manage the condition and consider the new medications if appropriate.
“It doesn’t have to be Ozempic, but this class of diabetes medications controls your blood sugar and causes weight loss without putting people at risk for hypoglycemia,” Low Wang said. “That affects quality of life. Repeated hypoglycemia puts people at risk for car crashes and falls.
“Many of the medications in this class also prevent heart attacks and strokes,” Low Wang said.
For people with diabetes, the medications make a lot of sense.
For people who are healthy but want to lose weight, Low Wang would not recommend Wegovy.
“It’s not even worth discussing because it’s not indicated,” she said.
It’s been almost 10 years since funnyman Lavell Crawford has lost over 100 pounds and he hasn’t looked back since!
At the 2016 Neighborhood Awards hosted by Steve Harvey, comedian Lavell Crawford showed off his new shape and weight loss. Crawford lost over 120 pounds after having the gastric sleeve operation.
In an interview with ‘Sway In the Morning’, Crawford gave his reasons for the weight loss procedure:
“I’m 47 and I’ve got a beautiful 5-year-old son that I want to be around for. I’ve got a beautiful wife that I want to be here for. I don’t want to leave her hanging.”
While performing the gastric sleeve, surgeons start by breaking the procedure up into two stages. The first stage is to reduce the size of the stomach. The second stage is done a year later after the patient loses some weight. The second stage of the procedure would include bypassing some of the intestines to reduce calorie absorption.
Crawford says that he had to lose weight on his own first to even qualify for the procedure.
“When you listen to your wife and your blood pressure, you’ve got to change some things. I’m walking and doing some medical things.”
In the video below, you can see Steve Harvey hardly recognizes the comedian in his slimmer, new look. Harvey jokes as he is able to place and connect his arms around the comedian now.
Crawford had the whole award show rolling in laughter as he joked about himself now and in the past.
“I’m coming up! The Neighborhood Awards had me around food for the past four or five years: best barbecue, best soul food…now I’m presenting on a category that doesn’t have food in it. I’m on the come up!”.
But real, truly awesome part of Lavell losing all that weight was the reason behind it. When you see him talk about his son and his wife and how proud he is to have them with him, you see a man on a mission. So for those who are also on a mission to lose weight. Here’s four ways to do it like Lavell (see below):
According to the Gallup’s 2013 Health and Healthcare survey, 51 percent of Americans want to lose weight. But, did you know that you could be setting yourself up for failure before you even begin? Here are four ways to take the stress out of losing weight.
You didn’t gain all of those unwanted pounds overnight, right? Well, you’re not going to lose all of them overnight either. Whether you have 15, 40 or 100+ pounds to lose, it’s going to take some time, so don’t beat yourself up. You’re only human for goodness sake, so expect a few slipups along the way. And get this: Studies have shown that those who lose weight gradually and steadily are more likely to keep it off in the long run. Start making healthier choices today and watch those pounds melt off.
This is what Lavell does easily. Many of us groan at the thought of working out, but exercise doesn’t have to be a drag. Why not spice it up by adding a buddy (you could even throw in a friendly competition), signing up for a group class or taking up a sport. Also, mix it up! No one wants to do the same exercise routine day in and day out. If the treadmill is your thing, try switching it up by walking around your neighborhood on a nice day. Your workout is what you make it, so make it fun!
When many try to lose weight for the first time, they first think about what they cannot eat. But really, when you examine what it takes to lose weight, it’s about what you are eating and not about what you’re not. Don’t stop eating, just start eating the right foods. Remember the age old statement, “everything in moderation” as well as “listen to your body.” Your body will tell you when you’ve had too much, don’t let your mind tell your differently.
“Why do I want to lose weight?” “Do I want to improve my health?” “Am I doing it to please others?” “Am I setting realistic goals?” “How will I track my progress?” These are just some of the questions you should be asking yourself before beginning your weight loss journey. Losing weight is already stressful enough and doing so for the wrong reasons can make it worse. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to shed a little extra weight as long as you do it for you and you only.
July 26, 2024 by Christian Carter
You can make fat-burning fun again with one of these super-charged activities. They will breathe new life into your gym time this year, helping you stay motivated, and keep your body burning more calories. Burning 1000 calories a day is not an easy task, but with dedication and intensity, you can do it consistently all year long. The amount of calories burned depends on a person’s weight and fitness level, intensity level, type and duration of activity.
Starting a new and intense exercise program isn’t a good idea if you have a health condition such as diabetes or heart disease that could be affected by exercise unless you get the green light from your doctor.
It’s also not a good idea to purposely burn a significant number of calories without refueling properly if you’re already below a healthy weight for your gender and height.
If you don’t eat after periods of heavy exercise on purpose, that can be a sign of the eating disorder anorexia. Exercising intensely after periods of binge eating can be a sign of bulimia or binge eating disorder.
If you think you may have an eating disorder, you may benefit from talking with a healthcare professional who specializes in eating disorders.
If you’re burning 1,000 calories a day through exercise, the amount you should eat depends on your goal.
If your goal is to lose weight, you’ll need to consume fewer calories than you burn. Reducing your calories by 500 to 600 a day under your maintenance level can lead to about a pound of weight loss per week. This is often considered a healthy rate.
Attempting a “crash diet” or a highly restrictive diet to lose weight is rarely successful in the long term.
If your goal is to maintain your weight, you’ll need to eat the same number of calories that you’re burning. To gain weight, you’ll need to eat more.
When choosing foods to eat during a high impact workout, you can consider foods that are high in carbohydrates, protein, or both:
Carbohydrates
The body’s preferred fuel source during intense exercise. Good sources include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Protein
Can help increase muscle protein synthesis. You can eat 20–30 grams of protein before a workout, with or without carbohydrates.
Bananas
A popular choice among athletes because they provide a quick release of energy.
Berries
Dark berries in particular are easily-digested glucose that fuels your muscles.
Yogurt
It’s not only good for gut health, it also has a decent amount of lactose, a milk sugar that’s easily used for energy. The protein in yogurt also slows down the absorption of lactose, making the energy boost last longer.
Hard-boiled eggs
They’re packed with protein, choline, and essential fatty acids. Eating eggs before a workout can help with muscle growth, blood sugar levels, and energy production
A simple stair climb back and forth up and down the stairs for 20 minutes can burn up to 1,000 calories. That’s right, 1,000 calories! Taking each step one at a time vigorously will help. Start with 60 stairs. Even if you have to go up multiple flights of stairs, it’s ok. Go back and forth, up and down, without stopping. You’ll feel the results after 20 minutes!
As one of the highest-calorie-burning exercises, jumping rope burns about 11 calories per minute. Varying speed and increasing intensity while jumping can burn up to 20 calories per minute. It is estimated that a 150-lb. person jumping rope at a moderate level (140 revolutions per minute) burns 1,022 calories in 60 minutes (try 15-minute intervals throughout the day). Jumping rope at a fast pace (180 to 200 revolutions per minute) burns around 1,020 calories in 50 minutes.
Calories burned while bicycling depend on intensity and terrain. The amount of calories burned will differ when riding a stationary bike versus an outdoor bike. A 150-lb. person bicycling at a racing pace (16 to 19 mph) for 75 minutes burns about 1,020 calories. Biking 14 to 15.9 mph (vigorous effort) burns close to 1,022 calories in 90 minutes.
Interval training combines short bursts of high-intensity exercises with recovery exercises, a less-intense form of exercise. Sprinting for two minutes with a one-minute recovery jog is an example of interval training. Interval training burns calories faster due to the high burst of intensity. A walk that usually takes 60 minutes may only take 45 minutes with small bursts of high-intensity walking. Depending on the exercise, interval training can burn 1,000 calories in 60 to 90 minutes. Strength-training exercises, such as push-ups, lunges, squats or bicep curls, can be used as recovery exercises in combination with high-intensity exercises.
Try these examples of a good, sweaty interval workout:
or
Believe it or not, jogging burns a large number of calories in a short amount of time. A 150-lb. person running at 6 mph (10-minute mile) burns approximately 1,022 calories in 90 minutes. Increasing speed burns more calories in a shorter period. The same person can burn 1,020 calories in 60 minutes running at 9 mph (6.5-minute mile). Running stairs burns 1,020 calories per hour.
First, let me say Tameika G is the truth. Like many of us, she was overweight most of her life and found herself at about 220-230 pounds and a size 16-18. She embarked on a 100-pound weight loss journey. Now, she’s about 130-140 and a size 4-6 and has been able to keep it off for over 10 years.
Since losing weight, she has devoted her time to helping others achieve the same happiness she’s found on this journey. As a Certified Personal Trainer, she has helped over 400 clients, both in-person and online, lose a cumulative total of 3000+ pounds.
On her blog, Tameika does not hold her tongue when she says the journey wasn’t easy. It’s come with a fair share of challenges and took time to get where she is today. “While this journey has been a turbulent one, I am thankful for it. Without it, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today,” she says.
Here’s how what she had to overcome and what she celebrates now in her own words.
Overcoming Addiction: Losing weight was the easy part, but keeping it off has been the biggest hurdle. Food is the worst of all addictions because your “substance” is easily accessible and cheap. For my whole life, I was obese and I had a food addiction. Unfortunately, that doesn’t automatically go away when you lose weight. It’s a daily struggle. Since I lost weight, I have struggled with food. I hate to break it to you, this hasn’t ended and honestly, I don’t know if it ever will. I have to constantly remind myself (and be okay with the fact) that I am a recovering food addict. I think if you approach this journey knowing and accepting this, it makes things much clearer for you.
Let’s move on to the GREATNESS. Because even though the struggles are real, the greatness that comes with this lifestyle is endless.
The Feeling: The Feeling: I think I preach this all the time but, life is beautiful. When you are genuinely happy in your body, the mind and soul just follow. Feeling great on the outside quickly snuck its way to my insides. I am ALWAYS on a high. People often ask me “why are you so happy allllll the time”. The answer is, I FEEL great.
My Health: These past years have been amazing health-wise. I go to the doctor and things are seamless. For over 10 years, I have been pegged as “perfectly healthy”. Do you know how good that feels? Especially coming from where I come from. I am aware this is largely due to my blessings, but a big contributor is the way I live my life. I am healthy! That feeling is indescribable. Especially when I used to dread going to the doctor and being told (again) that I needed to watch my weight. Oh, and always being handed one of those patronizing “Time to get healthy” pamphlets to review.
The Embarrassment–It’s gone: It’s been more than 10 years since my 100-pound weight loss journey and I haven’t had to be embarrassed by my size. I can ride a rollercoaster without worrying if I’ll fit in the seat. I can go into a store confidently knowing they’ll have my size. I can wear a FREAKING BIKINI (something I never thought possible). I have the stamina and confidence to run somewhere if I’m late. I can participate in recreational sports without worrying how my endurance will hold up. The embarrassing hurdles you have to go through with being overweight (that most will never understand) have completely vanished.
Hair, Skin, and Nails: I am now acne-free, I couldn’t say that growing up. I suffered with teenage acne and adult acne When I switched my diet for good, I never looked back. Also, my nails and hair are always thriving.
Courage: This is probably where I’ve seen the biggest change. Now, if I ever feel the least bit unhappy, I make the changes necessary to rectify. Losing the weight (and keeping it off) has helped me to see that I can do the “impossible”. So to say that this weight loss journey has changed me for the better is an understatement. My first real “accomplishment” in my adult life was losing this weight. After that, I felt (and continue to feel) invincible. I now set a goal, and I accomplish it without fail. Whether it’s buying my condo, excelling in my career, moving abroad, traveling the world, starting a business – I now have the courage to do anything I put my mind to. The accomplishment of losing weight was the catalyst to how I approach my life today.
Tameika’s biggest piece of advice? “One: Ditch the fad diets/extremes. Two: Be Patient and Consistent. Three: Slow and steady wins the race with this journey if you want it long term.”
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