By Sheena O’Beirne, Nutritionist & Naturopath

Over the years, many clients who have wanted to lose weight have asked me ‘isn’t there a pill I can take without having to change my food’? and of course the answer was ‘sadly no’. But now things have changed and there is a class of drug called GLP-1 agonists, (you may be more familiar with the brand name Ozempic), which was designed for treating those with diabetes – and that came with the added benefit of weight loss, causing a stampede to GPs for those without diabetes, who wanted to lose weight. And it certainly helps shed the weight. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch – so what’s the catch?

How do they work? They suppress your appetite by slowing stomach emptying so you don’t eat as much.

That’s the good news, the not so good news is like any medication they come with a lot of side-effects. Many of those on the medication report that due to the delayed stomach emptying they experience cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea or constipation. 

The medication usually causes muscle loss rather than fat. Muscle is key to your metabolism, hormones, and fat burning – you don’t want to lose muscle!

The medication can cause gallstones which is not unusual in rapid weight loss, and slowing down gastric clearance means it may affect the absorption of your other medication(s) and your iron, magnesium and protein which can contribute to fatigue, hair loss, poor immunity, and even mood changes.

The most serious side-effects that we see are depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts.  

In addition, the medication only works when you are on it – once finished, weight largely goes back to where it started.

But there is a solution. Working with the support of a nutritionist, a dietitian, or psychologist has been found to outperform working with a GP alone. 

The key to successful weight loss and maintaining the new weight is in changing your food. Eating food whilst on the medication that works for your weight not against it, means you’ll change your relationship with food, change your taste buds, so at the end of the course of medication, you can keep the weight off and not want to eat that which put the weight on in the first place (unless it’s caused by a metabolic condition – a subject for another day).

Working with a nutritionist will help you understand what food and quantity is best for you. Do you know how much protein you should be eating? (not your next-door neighbour, or your friend/husband/wife), do you know how much water you should be drinking? Do you know how much fat suits you? All of this is individual.

If you simply take the medication and don’t change your food, we’re finding it goes straight back on because you haven’t found a different way of eating, you haven’t changed your taste buds so that you actually want different food. 

Weight loss by exploring new food is not about depriving you, but about finding a new way to enjoy it.

Many times over the years of working with food alone, I have heard people say ‘I’ve never felt so good, I have more energy, I sleep well, I don’t have bloating, nausea or reflux’ – because you’re eating food that suits you. A different person walks into my office two weeks after changing their choice of food, and it’s gorgeous to watch.

I love seeing people start to glow. Combining the GLP-1 with the change of food that is necessary will mean a better journey through the program with long-lasting effects after you’ve come off the medication.

Also, if whilst on the meds you suffer some mental health issues, you will benefit from seeing a psychologist or other mental health practitioner, to guide you through the program.

So if you or someone you know is thinking of going on Ozempic or any GLP-1 agonist, or already battling through any of the negative effects of being on the medication, please book in an appointment, come and see me to get individualised treatment to achieve the results to make you the best version of yourself, don’t suffer alone.

Of course you may not be interested in taking medication, you may want to work the normal way to achieve your weight loss. In that case you may be confused as to how to go about it – and for good reason – there’s the low carb, low fat, low sugar, ketone, paleo, time restricted fasting, 5/2, carnivore, vegetable fast, celery juice, The Weekday Diet, homeopathic diet, meal replacement drinks, to name but a few. 

Let me guide you through the ideal way for you to achieve healthy weight loss. I work with many diets and can recommend the absolute best one for you so you can join the thousands of happy patients who look in the mirror and smile. ☺