In recent years, several qualitative studies have given us field notes of patients describing their experiences having larger bodies and interacting with the health care system: “I think that medical professionals will often cut people off about other medical concerns and blame everything on being overweight. Patients need to have their other ...

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, more commonly referred to as GLP-1s, have undoubtedly garnered much fanfare the past five years. This class of medications is prescribed for many indications including diabetes, weight loss, and to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in adults with heart disease. The first GLP-1, Byetta (exenatide), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 to treat diabetes mellitus Type 2. It was not until 2014 that the first GLP-1 was ...

In my thirties, my body began to “betray” me. After years of running marathons, working out, and eating well, I found myself struggling with unexplained weight gain, fatigue, joint pain, and digestive issues. I didn’t realize at the time that these were symptoms of deeper, interconnected health issues, including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and celiac disease. My experience with GLP-1 weight loss drugs has been part of a broader journey toward navigating the challenges of chronic illness with a supportive health care team. It was a slow and circuitous process ...

As obesity rates continue to rise in the United States, researchers have pointed toward numerous causes: ultra-processed foods, lack of physical activity, and genetics, among others. Interventions to reduce weight have been well-discussed by public health officials and physicians. Yet years of counseling on increasing physical activity and changing dietary habits has not had the desired impact on population obesity rates. The issue of weight has often been frustrating for physicians and patients alike. Despite the multifactorial causes of obesity, physicians ...

Glugacon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications have taken social media and celebrity news by storm. Your patients have likely heard about these medications – sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic, and the GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro or Zepbound) – and their effectiveness for weight loss well before the topic is broached in your exam room. So, you might be asking yourself, what exactly have they heard online? ...

With the development and expanded use of medications for the treatment of obesity, we are able to broaden the tools we can offer patients to treat this condition. Medications like Wegovy and Ozempic have become household names. These medications are classified as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Glucagon-like peptides are hormones that are naturally produced in the gut (intestines) that help regulate blood sugars and hunger signaling. Since these natural hormones last in our bodies for only a few minutes, GLP-1 medications create longer lasting signaling to potentiate ...

The prevalence of obesity has surged in the setting of the obesity epidemic. Among U.S. children and adolescents 2-19 years old, over the ten years between 2007-2008 and 2017-2018 the prevalence of obesity increased from 16.8 percent to 19.3 percent while severe obesity rose from 4.9 percent to 6.1 percent. Nationally, a greater percentage of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic children are

Obesity is a challenging and increasingly prevalent medical concern worldwide. The relationship between obesity and numerous other medical conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular concerns, and certain types of cancer is well established. The etiology of obesity is multifaceted; medical, biological, psychological, social, and cultural influences differentially contribute to its development and persistence. As such, it is important to approach obesity and weight loss with the aim of optimizing metabolic health through ...

Note: this piece is an update to the 2024 article Integrating Weight Management in Primary Care, published in this journal, which outlined practical methods to initiating and monitoring patient-centered weight management in a primary care setting. This article specifically addresses the use of GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists. The availability and increasing popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) ...