• GLP-1 medications work on naturally occurring receptors in your body that are involved in digestion and metabolism.

• By delaying your stomachs emptying, GLP-1 medications make you feel less hungry and fuller faster.

• GLP-1 medications ramp up your metabolism and control blood sugar levels.

Want to get technical? – Read on

GLP-1 is a small peptide released from gastrointestinal L cells. This peptide binds to the GLP-1R which is found in multiple parts of the body (brain, pancreas, kidney, stomach, blood vessels and heart), this is likely why they have such a profound effect on not only weight loss but have other health benefits. When you eat, GLP-1 levels rise naturally making you feel full and allows for proper digestion and metabolism - this is part of what is called the incretin system. GLP-1RA medications work by using the incretin system to amplify its response to food and allow you to take control of your metabolism and ultimately lose weight. Naturally produced GLP-1 only last a few minutes before being broken down to less active by products, with injectable GLP-1 medications you get sustained levels of this beneficial incretin system.

• Semaglutide, Tirzapetide, Dulaglutide which go by their brand names Ozempic ®/Wegovy ® , Mounjaro ® and Trulicity® are some of the many GLP-1 medications.

• Initially used only for treating diabetes. What we saw in the research and in real world experience is that patients on these medications lost weight after starting them.

• Mostly once weekly injectable medications.

• The FDA has approved some of these medications for use in people without diabetes and for the purpose of weight management. In fact, studies have shown that people without diabetes are actually losing more weight.

• These medications can be very expensive, commonly at or above 1000$.

• Although these are often first line treatments for obesity insurance companies don’t always cover them.

• We will take care of working with your insurance and pharmacy to find an affordable treatment plan and although not guaranteed we are usually successful in finding coverage options, and will fight for you to get access to the medications that are right for you.

Our only requirement is that you are in the state of Florida to have a telemedicine consultation.

• Overall these medications have generally proven to be safe and have been used for several years for the treatment of diabetes. Most Side effects are mild to moderate in severity and temporary.

• The most common side effects include GI symptoms, like nausea vomiting diarrhea and constipation, and injection site reactions.

• Side effects are typically most pronounced when starting or increasing medication dosages.

• Eating smaller more frequent meals, following a low fat diet avoiding spicy foods and limiting alcohol use can help limit onset of side effect symptoms.

• If you experience any symptoms you will have direct access to quickly discuss with your doctor.

• A review of several trials has shown reductions in heart attack, stroke and death. It also reduces risk factors for heart disease such as weight, glucose levels and blood pressure.

  Want to know more?

• A review article, which is the highest regarded form of evidence in medical literature, looked at several trials and observed significant reduction in cardiovascular events. Link