Hormonal
GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, tirzepatide) and bariatric surgery produce substantial weight loss (>10-15%) and improve cardiometabolic risk factors, but weight regain is common upon discontinuation, often necessitating lifelong treatment.
GLP-1 medications and surgery are currently the most effective tools for significant weight loss and metabolic improvement. However, they are not 'cures'; stopping them typically leads to weight regain. If you choose this path, prepare for it to be a long-term or lifelong commitment, and verify insurance coverage or affordability before starting.
rapid weight regain is generally seen following discontinuation of treatment, thereby raising the question if life-long treatment is required to maintain weight loss
Why this rating
Supported by large RCTs (SELECT trial), meta-analyses, and long-term follow-up data cited in the text.
Source
Debating Weight Loss vs. Weight Neutral Strategies for Improvements of Health
Berit L. Heitmann et al. · Current Obesity Reports · 2024
DOI 10.1007/s13679-024-00587-8
Related findings · Hormonal
- Initial treatment for type 2 diabetes should be a combination of metformin and either an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist to achieve cardiorenal protection, rather than monotherapy or older agents like sulfonylureas.Strong
- For patients with specific monogenic obesity syndromes (leptin deficiency, POMC/PCSK1/LEPR mutations), targeted pharmacotherapy (recombinant leptin or setmelanotide) is highly effective and should be prioritized, unlike in polygenic obesity.Strong
- Continued weekly administration of 2.4 mg subcutaneous semaglutide prevents weight regain and promotes further weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity, whereas switching to placebo results in significant weight regain.Strong
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