Browse the evidence

High-volume static stretching improves glycemic control (post-prandial glucose and HbA1c) in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, potentially by increasing GLUT-4 translocation via AMPK and CaMK pathways.

If you have Type 2 Diabetes, incorporating static stretching into your routine may help lower blood sugar levels, especially after meals. It works by helping your muscles take up glucose without needing as much insulin. It is not a replacement for medication but a helpful addition.

Metformin augmentation for non-responders to initial behavioral interventions provides a potential rescue effect but is associated with gastrointestinal side effects that challenge adherence.

If behavioral changes alone don't improve your insulin sensitivity, adding metformin might help, but be prepared for potential stomach issues. Starting with a low dose and using extended-release versions can help manage side effects.

Maintaining weight loss induced by anti-obesity drugs may require lifelong use unless effective adjunct strategies for weight maintenance are available.

If you use medication for weight loss, understand that it may need to be long-term. This is similar to managing other chronic conditions. The goal of research like POWERS is to find adjunct strategies that might reduce this dependency.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (Liraglutide, Semaglutide) and dual agonists (Tirzepatide) are viable and promising options for weight loss in people living with HIV, with minimal drug-drug interaction risks compared to Orlistat.

GLP-1 agonists like Liraglutide and Semaglutide are effective and generally safe for people with HIV, with fewer drug interactions than older drugs like Orlistat. They require injections (or new oral forms in development). Discuss these options with your provider if lifestyle changes alone are insufficient.

Mazindol, an anorexiant approved in Japan for short-term weight loss, significantly reduces body weight and total cholesterol compared to placebo in Japanese adults with obesity, but is associated with higher adverse event rates.

For Japanese adults with obesity, mazindol is an approved short-term treatment that significantly reduces body weight and total cholesterol compared to placebo. It acts by suppressing appetite. Patients should be aware of higher adverse event rates and the need for short-term use.

Semaglutide treatment in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI) significantly improves patient-reported functional outcomes (FAAM, FAOS, CAIT) and reduces the incidence of recurrent ankle sprains and surgery, with approximately one-third of the benefit mediated by weight loss.

For patients with chronic ankle instability, especially those who are overweight or have type 2 diabetes, semaglutide may offer benefits beyond metabolic control. It is associated with improved ankle function, fewer sprains, and lower surgery rates. While weight loss contributes to this, it is not the only factor. Patients should discuss this potential orthopedic benefit with their prescribing physician, particularly if they are considering surgical intervention for ankle instability.

Semaglutide use for rapid weight loss causes 'semaglutide face,' characterized by facial hollowing, skin sagging, and premature aging due to subcutaneous fat loss, collagen depletion, and muscle mass reduction.

If you are using semaglutide for weight loss, be aware that rapid fat and muscle loss can cause your face to look hollow or sagged. This is a known side effect called 'semaglutide face.' You can discuss preventative or corrective measures like dermal fillers, PRP, or radiofrequency microneedling with your provider to maintain your appearance while losing weight.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are perceived by primary care providers as effective and promising tools for managing recurrent weight gain after metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS), offering renewed optimism and life-changing results for patients.

If you have had bariatric surgery and are regaining weight, GLP-1 medications like semaglutide are a viable and effective option to help you lose weight again. However, they are not a magic bullet; you must continue to focus on diet and exercise. The main barrier is cost, so work with your provider to navigate insurance coverage or assistance programs.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide) significantly suppress hunger, reduce 'food noise' (intrusive thoughts about food), and increase early satiety during the dynamic weight loss phase, leading to reduced portion sizes and cravings.

When starting GLP-1 medications, expect a significant reduction in hunger and intrusive thoughts about food ('food noise'). This is a biological effect, not just willpower. You may feel full faster and eat smaller portions. This effect is strongest in the first few months (dynamic phase). If you stop the medication, hunger and food noise typically return, so long-term adherence is often necessary for sustained benefits.

Bariatric surgery, particularly Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), significantly improves psoriasis symptoms and quality of life, with effects potentially linked to increased GLP-1 levels post-surgery.

If you have severe obesity and psoriasis, and lifestyle changes plus medications haven't worked, bariatric surgery (especially gastric bypass) can be a powerful option. It not only helps with weight but can significantly improve your psoriasis symptoms, likely by boosting your body's natural GLP-1 levels. This is a major step, so it's reserved for those with higher BMI or uncontrolled comorbidities.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) increases lean body mass and improves body composition in men with documented low testosterone, but no trials have evaluated its combined use with GLP-1 RAs.

If you are a man with low testosterone, TRT can help preserve muscle. However, doctors should check your levels before starting, and there is no proof yet that taking TRT alongside GLP-1s prevents muscle loss better than TRT alone.

The Russian semaglutide-based drug Velgia® (WRYC12301) demonstrates bioequivalence, high safety, and lack of immunogenicity compared to the reference drug Wegovy® at doses of 0.25 mg and 2.4 mg.

This study confirms that the Russian semaglutide product Velgia® is bioequivalent to the brand-name Wegovy® at both 0.25 mg and 2.4 mg doses. It has a comparable safety profile with mild side effects and no detected immunogenicity (antibody formation). For patients seeking this treatment, this generic option offers the same pharmacokinetic exposure as the reference drug.

Once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg produces significantly greater weight loss than once-daily liraglutide 3.0 mg in patients with obesity, based on indirect comparisons of randomized controlled trials.

If you are treating obesity with GLP-1 agonists, semaglutide (2.4 mg weekly) is likely to produce roughly twice the weight loss of liraglutide (3.0 mg daily). This benefit comes with a once-weekly injection schedule, which may improve adherence compared to daily injections, though gastrointestinal side effects are common with both.

Oral semaglutide provides cardiovascular benefits, including reducing the risk of myocardial infarction and maintaining optimal blood pressure, making it suitable for patients with established cardiovascular disease.

For diabetic patients with heart disease, oral semaglutide offers cardiovascular protection, potentially preventing heart attacks and maintaining healthy blood pressure, in addition to controlling blood sugar.

Supplementation with specific probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055, Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601, and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032) reduces abdominal adiposity and body weight in overweight or obese individuals.

Consuming fermented milk containing specific probiotic strains like Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (10^8 cfu/day) may help reduce abdominal fat in adults with large visceral fat areas.

Prebiotic supplementation (inulin, oligofructose, galactooligosaccharides) modulates gut microbiota (increasing Bifidobacterium) and improves metabolic markers in overweight or obese individuals.

Supplementing with prebiotics like inulin or oligofructose (e.g., 50/50 mix) for 16 weeks can help reduce body fat and trunk fat in overweight or obese individuals, including children, by improving gut microbiota composition.

Discontinuation of semaglutide or tirzepatide prior to pregnancy leads to expected weight regain, which may cause fetal macrosomia and negate the metabolic benefits of prior weight loss.

If you are using semaglutide or tirzepatide and planning pregnancy, you must stop the medication 1-2 months before trying to conceive. Be aware that you will likely regain some weight during this time, which can increase the risk of the baby being too large (macrosomia). To minimize this, focus on strength training and high-protein nutrition immediately after stopping the drug.

A history of metabolic surgery (specifically sleeve gastrectomy) significantly attenuates the weight-loss efficacy of liraglutide in patients with mild obesity, resulting in substantially lower total weight loss compared to non-surgical patients.

If you have had weight-loss surgery (especially sleeve gastrectomy), standard doses of liraglutide may not work as well as they do for others. Your doctor might need to increase your dose to 3.0 mg (if approved/available) or switch you to a different medication like tirzepatide to achieve similar weight loss results. Do not assume the standard dose will be sufficient.

Tirzepatide maintenance therapy (either at maximum tolerated dose or reduced to 5 mg) is designed to prevent the weight regain seen with placebo, with rescue protocols available for significant regain.

This paper outlines a trial testing if you can stay on a lower dose of tirzepatide (5mg) or stay on your highest effective dose to keep weight off, compared to stopping it. It also includes a safety net: if you regain more than half your lost weight, you get 'rescue' treatment.

Tirzepatide use is associated with a significantly lower risk of suicidal ideation or suicide attempts compared to other anti-obesity medications in a real-world cohort.

Current real-world evidence suggests that tirzepatide is not associated with an increased risk of suicide and may be associated with a lower risk compared to other anti-obesity medications. However, because this is an observational study, it does not prove causation. Patients with a history of suicidality were excluded, so this data does not apply to high-risk individuals. Consult your provider for personalized psychiatric risk assessment.

GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy for obesity effectively supports weight loss and improves quality of life, but long-term sustainability is undermined by high medication costs, inadequate multidisciplinary support, and significant side effects leading to discontinuation.

GLP-1 medications like Tirzepatide and Semaglutide are effective for weight loss and improving quality of life for many users. However, long-term success is not guaranteed. High costs and side effects are the main reasons people stop treatment. If you are considering or using these medications, be aware that discontinuation often leads to weight regain. Ensure you have a plan for managing costs and side effects, and consider seeking multidisciplinary support (dietary, psychological) to improve adherence and sustainability.

Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, achieves superior weight loss and hepatic steatosis reduction compared to semaglutide, with preliminary cardiovascular non-inferiority data.

If you have Type 2 Diabetes and fatty liver disease, ask your doctor about Tirzepatide. It is a newer medication that has shown superior weight loss and liver fat reduction compared to other GLP-1 drugs. While cardiovascular outcome data is still being finalized, it is a powerful option for managing both conditions.

Initiating anti-obesity medications more than 12 months after bariatric surgery is associated with a significantly lower risk of adverse events compared to initiation within the first 12 months.

If you are considering weight loss medication after bariatric surgery, current evidence suggests it may be safer to wait until at least 12 months have passed since your surgery. Starting medication earlier is associated with a much higher risk of adverse events, though this may be partly due to the natural recovery period of the surgery itself rather than the drug alone.

The menopausal transition is associated with a reduction in lean or muscle mass, with postmenopausal women showing approximately 5.7% lower muscle mass compared to premenopausal women, although this correlation may be confounded by aging and measurement limitations of DXA.

If you are going through menopause, expect a potential decline in muscle mass, particularly during the perimenopausal transition. This is not necessarily inevitable or irreversible. Focus on resistance training and adequate protein intake during this window, as it is a critical period where interventions may be most effective in preventing sarcopenia.