Latest news with #TheWeightLossRevolution
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Prevention, not just medication, key to tackling obesity and diabetes: Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday stressed that prevention should be the main focus in tackling obesity and diabetes, rather than depending only on medication. He said that lifestyle changes, awareness, and scientifically backed information are crucial to address the growing health challenge of metabolic disorders in India. Dr. Singh, who is also a renowned diabetologist and professor of medicine, was speaking at the launch of the book 'The Weight Loss Revolution – Weight Loss Drugs and How to Use Them' authored by endocrinologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal along with journalist Shivam Vij. The Minister noted that India, once known as the diabetes capital of the world, is now also emerging as the obesity capital, ranking third globally in childhood obesity. He warned against the unchecked spread of disinformation through unscientific diet charts and fad regimens, saying diet plans must always be based on scientifically validated principles. Dr. Singh emphasised the importance of 'Indian solutions for Indian patients' and pointed out that central obesity -- fat around the abdomen -- poses a more serious risk for Indians compared to Western populations. Sometimes, he said, 'a simple inch tape around the waist may be more meaningful than a BMI chart.' Highlighting the role of lifestyle interventions, Dr. Singh said studies in India show that regular yoga practice can reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes by up to 40 per cent. He called for a holistic approach that combines lifestyle modification, modern medicine, and traditional practices. On the use of new weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, Dr. Singh advised caution, saying clinical outcomes take years to establish. He compared it with the refined oil episode in India, where hasty conclusions later proved misleading. Dr. Singh also reminded that with over 70 per cent of India's population below 40 years of age, the country cannot afford to let lifestyle diseases affect its youth. Prevention-driven strategies, he said, are vital to protect the potential of the younger generation. Quoting Mark Twain, he remarked, 'Economics is too serious a subject to be left to an economist,' and added that obesity and diabetes are too serious to be left only to doctors. Unless there is mass awareness, he said, optimum results in tackling these diseases will not be possible. The Minister praised Dr. Mithal's book as timely and authoritative, saying it will help both medical professionals and the public separate facts from misinformation in an era dominated by social media and quick fixes.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Can Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs be substitute for work outs? Dr Ambrish Mithal and Raj Ganpath discuss
If you've ever tried to lose weight, cutting calories and spending long hours in the gym, this thought must have occurred to you: 'I wish there were a pill I could pop and take care of it.' Turns out that there may be a possibility, going by the host of GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, that have flooded the market. What is also clear, however, is that while these drugs may be an effective tool for some people, old-school lifestyle choices, exercise, nutrition, stress management, and sleep cannot be ignored. Fitness and nutrition coach, Raj Ganpath, co-founder of The Quad, talks to endocrinologist Dr Ambrish Mithal, the author of the recently-released book, The Weight Loss Revolution, to decode what these drugs are, who should or should not be taking them and why this does not mean you stop working out and eating well. Edited extracts of an interview Raj Ganpath (RG): Thank you for writing the book, the first book on weight loss drugs and how to use them in India. So, my first question to you is, what is the problem with weight loss today, and why do you think the existing solutions — exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes — don't work? Dr Ambrish Mithal (AM): The first is that we have to understand why there is a sort of epidemic of obesity: weight loss is a problem because there is too much weight gain these days. And that, of course, is dependent on the environment we grow up in, as well as our habits, which are very different from those of the generation before us. I think the environment encourages unhealthy eating and easy quick fixes, and that's why the prevalence of obesity is going up. The second part, of course, is that we have always been trained, even as endocrinologists, to think of obesity as basically because someone is eating too much and not exercising. That is still true to some extent, but the difference is understanding that obesity is a brain disease. Some people genuinely have excessive food cravings that they cannot control, and it's not right to blame them for that; sometimes they need assistance. Going further, it appears that a significant component of obesity or excess weight is caused by the way our brain is wired, suggesting that we need to address this aspect. RG: Obesity is considered an aesthetic problem for most people. But you're talking about this more as a disease. You've explained this again in the book (that) obesity is now referred to as ABCD, which stands for adiposity-based chronic disease. The existing solutions of lifestyle changes (eat less, move more, be mindful about what you're eating) work for some people, you would agree. But it doesn't work for a significant number of people. So, what do you think is the difference in approach? Dr AM: Unfortunately, that is still not understood. Who are the people who require this help, at a very micro level, it's not understood, and that's a real active area of research right now. The issue here is that whenever that happens, you choose very crude conservative criteria. For example, it's understood that if someone's body mass index is over 30 (regardless of its drawbacks, the BMI remains the most widely used tool), you probably require pharmacological assistance to lose weight. And then if you are thinking of obesity as a disease, which it is or ABCD, as you very correctly said, then if you have disease manifestations associated with obesity, like diabetes, hypertension, or fatty liver, then maybe even at a BMI of 27, you may require this medication. But we have not cracked that code yet, so we are falling back on conventional BMIs and the existence of co-morbidities, as everyone has got used to that during COVID as defining factors to decide who requires this or not. In addition, the commitment of the patient to their lifestyle has to be very solid. And because these drugs actually result in positive changes, which that same person was unable to achieve despite the years of effort, that motivates people a lot into lifestyle. So it's a combination. RG: Another very interesting point that you mentioned in the book is that there is a big difference between weight loss and weight gain. There are people who repeatedly lose and gain weight, and they believe they're losing and gaining the same weight over and over again. But you make a very interesting point that when you lose weight, you lose fat and muscle, but when you gain the weight back, you gain mostly fat. So, as a result, if you are someone who loses weight and gains weight over and over again, over a period of time, even if your body weight remains the same, your body composition changes. How does that affect someone from a metabolic and health perspective? Dr AM: The point you mentioned is something that really bothers me in clinical practice with people who go through like numerous diets and plans and then keep putting it back on. That also bothers me with the drugs because if you take the drug intermittently, drop it, take it for some time and drop it, exactly what you said happens. So I think that is a very important point. If you lose muscle by such yo-yo dieting or weight management programs, you will be more prone to falls and fractures. Connected with that is the fact that it impacts osteoporosis; if muscles are weak, bones also become weak because they're not getting that stimulus right. Much more interesting is the fact that muscles play an important role in our insulin glucose metabolism. If you lose muscle mass, it's almost the same thing as putting on fat. Skeletal muscles are very important in controlling insulin, and if you have poor skeletal muscle mass, your insulin resistance will increase and therefore your chances of all the metabolic complications or worsening of those complications like diabetes, like again, fatty liver will increase. So it's not just about fat or about weight. It's also about losing muscle whenever you go on crash diet programs. RG: There is a difference between weight loss and weight management. Data tells us that less than 10% of people are able to retain their results for more than a couple of years. How do GLP-1 drugs help, in this regard? Dr AM: I'm so glad that as a fitness expert and coach, you brought up this point. This is something we are struggling with because of all the social media noise. I think what happened in weight management was that we had lifestyle changes, which we've been harping on for 40 years, and then they had bariatric surgery for the severely obese. There was a huge gap between. Now that gap has been actually filled in. That bridge has been built between lifestyle and surgery, and that actually is a long bridge because a huge number of people fall into it. That is where GLP drugs fit in. They help us lose anywhere between 10% and 20%, or even 22%, of our baseline weight, and they have completely changed the game. This is just the beginning of the explosion of GLP 1, and you'll see fascinating progress in this as the years pass. RG: Glucagon-like peptide one (GLP-1) drugs is becoming a big word now. What are these drugs? What do they do? Can you help us understand the science behind it a little bit? Dr AM: GLP-1 is a hormone that is secreted from our gut. When we eat something, there's a secretion of GLP-1 1, and it has multiple actions that have been discovered. But it has three primary actions. One action is on the pancreas to stimulate insulin secretion to help metabolise your food. At the same time, it suppresses the anti-insulin hormone, which is glucagon. That is the primary action of GLP one. The second action is that they slow down gastric emptying and stomach movement. And the third action, which was only recently understood and emphasised, is that the same GLP one travels to the brain, and it tells you to stop eating, controls your satiety. GLP 1 drugs act through the same pathway, the same receptor where the GLP 1 binds. So you have a different molecule binding to the same receptor. With molecular engineering, you keep modifying the molecule to make it more effective. The first GLP one we used was in 2005, so it's 20 years of experience with this molecule. In 2015-16, they were able to crack the code on how the brain's action on appetite and satiety is more pronounced. That really crossed the threshold, and that's what made big news. For the first time, we had a drug that could cause 15% weight loss, which was unheard of. The predecessors, which we have used liberally over the years, caused 4 or 5% the same story. RG: It feels like this is such an easy way out, and there's no price to pay. But there are side effects. So what are these? Dr AM: So there's no molecule, no drug discovered, that didn't have side effects. So let's talk of the short term side effects, which many people or most people actually face is gut related side effects, the most common amongst them being nausea, rarely vomiting but nausea. So that's one. You can get severe constipation, significant episodes of diarrhoea or upper abdominal bloating because of gastric slowing slowing of the stomach movement. The good news is that they are managed by the normal medicines, and they usually go away in most patients in a few weeks. Also, some people feel drained out or complain about a change in their relationship with food, saying that they don't enjoy it anymore. More significant side effects could be very, very rare pancreatitis, an exceedingly rare thing, not yet firmly established with these drugs. But there is a suspicion that they increase pancreatitis. The other thing you read, which can certainly put people off, is thyroid cancer. That cancer is very rare, and there's no evidence in humans at the moment to say that that cancer is increased. Again, if there's no family history of thyroid cancer and there's no history of medullary thyroid cancer, you can be very relaxed about that. The third is the muscle loss. The important point about muscle loss is that it is not a drug side effect. Muscle loss is a part of weight loss. Roughly 20% of the weight that we lose will be muscle. The last, but important one is a very rare, unproven report of some eye related problems which are being researched thoroughly. RG: In your book, you said there are people who microdose on this. How does that work? Dr AM: This is the US phenomenon when there was a shortage, and so other companies were allowed to make the drug. Then this phenomenon really picked up. And then people started controlling this, saying, 'It's my body. I know best, you know, so I'll just adjust the dose.' Microdosing, I suspect, will not be harmful unless it's done totally randomly. But I don't know how much of a benefit it offers. Apparently, there are clinics in the West that do these kinds of things, but I would not recommend them at this stage. RG: There are also positive side effects of this medicine, right? Dr AM: Research-wise, this is the most fascinating area. Drugs originally discovered for diabetes were found to have profound weight loss effects to the extent that they became weight loss drugs. Because of that, they also have other effects that clearly reduce cardiovascular events; what we call heart-related complications, go down in people who take these drugs. Diabetes patients, who are at high risk for these complications, are significantly benefiting. Also, the progression of kidney failure clearly goes down, and the need for dialysis and transplant goes down in people who are treated with these drugs. (There is also) Amazing data on the liver, the squeezing out of fat from the liver. What is most fascinating is the impact on the brain. Some of the data in Alzheimer's is absolutely amazing. Even in Parkinson's, there is some data, but we don't have the final clinical trials yet to say yes, they work. It's being tried to reduce alcoholism. They found that it works in some people, and they develop an aversion to alcohol. Those are the happy side effects that are being reported.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Dr Ambrish Mithal decodes Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs, with Raj Ganpath
If you've ever tried to lose weight, cutting calories and spending long hours in the gym, this thought must have occurred to you: 'I wish there were a pill I could pop and take care of it.' Turns out that there may be a possibility, going by the host of GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, that have flooded the market. What is also clear, however, is that while these drugs may be an effective tool for some people, old-school lifestyle choices, exercise, nutrition, stress management, and sleep cannot be ignored. Fitness and nutrition coach, Raj Ganpath, co-founder of The Quad, talks to endocrinologist Dr Ambrish Mithal, the author of the recently-released book, The Weight Loss Revolution, to decode what these drugs are, who should or should no be taking them and why this does not mean you stop working out and eating well. Edited extracts of an interview Raj Ganpath (RG): Thank you for writing the book, the first book on weight loss drugs and how to use them in India. So, my first question to you is, what is the problem with weight loss today, and why do you think the existing solutions — exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle changes — don't work? Dr Ambrish Mithal (AM): The first is that we have to understand why there is a sort of epidemic of obesity: weight loss is a problem because there is too much weight gain these days. And that, of course, is dependent on the environment we grow up in, as well as our habits, which are very different from those of the generation before us. I think the environment encourages unhealthy eating and easy quick fixes, and that's why the prevalence of obesity is going up. The second part, of course, is that we have always been trained, even as endocrinologists, to think of obesity as basically because someone is eating too much and not exercising. That is still true to some extent, but the difference is understanding that obesity is a brain disease. Some people genuinely have excessive food cravings that they cannot control, and it's not right to blame them for that; sometimes they need assistance. Going further, it appears that a significant component of obesity or excess weight is caused by the way our brain is wired, suggesting that we need to address this aspect. RG: Obesity is considered an aesthetic problem for most people. But you're talking about this more as a disease. You've explained this again in the book (that) obesity is now referred to as ABCD, which stands for adiposity-based chronic disease. The existing solutions of lifestyle changes (eat less, move more, be mindful about what you're eating) work for some people, you would agree. But it doesn't work for a significant number of people. So, what do you think is the difference in approach? Dr AM: Unfortunately, that is still not understood. Who are the people who require this help, at a very micro level, it's not understood, and that's a real active area of research right now. The issue here is that whenever that happens, you choose very crude conservative criteria. For example, it's understood that if someone's body mass index is over 30 (regardless of its drawbacks, the BMI remains the most widely used tool), you probably require pharmacological assistance to lose weight. And then if you are thinking of obesity as a disease, which it is or ABCD, as you very correctly said, then if you have disease manifestations associated with obesity, like diabetes, hypertension, or fatty liver, then maybe even at a BMI of 27, you may require this medication. But we have not cracked that code yet, so we are falling back on conventional BMIs and the existence of co-morbidities, as everyone has got used to that during COVID as defining factors to decide who requires this or not. In addition, the commitment of the patient to their lifestyle has to be very solid. And because these drugs actually result in positive changes, which that same person was unable to achieve despite the years of effort, that motivates people a lot into lifestyle. So it's a combination. RG: Another very interesting point that you mentioned in the book is that there is a big difference between weight loss and weight gain. There are people who repeatedly lose and gain weight, and they believe they're losing and gaining the same weight over and over again. But you make a very interesting point that when you lose weight, you lose fat and muscle, but when you gain the weight back, you gain mostly fat. So, as a result, if you are someone who loses weight and gains weight over and over again, over a period of time, even if your body weight remains the same, your body composition changes. How does that affect someone from a metabolic and health perspective? Dr AM: The point you mentioned is something that really bothers me in clinical practice with people who go through like numerous diets and plans and then keep putting it back on. That also bothers me with the drugs because if you take the drug intermittently, drop it, take it for some time and drop it, exactly what you said happens. So I think that is a very important point. If you lose muscle by such yo-yo dieting or weight management programs, you will be more prone to falls and fractures. Connected with that is the fact that it impacts osteoporosis; if muscles are weak, bones also become weak because they're not getting that stimulus right. Much more interesting is the fact that muscles play an important role in our insulin glucose metabolism. If you lose muscle mass, it's almost the same thing as putting on fat. Skeletal muscles are very important in controlling insulin, and if you have poor skeletal muscle mass, your insulin resistance will increase and therefore your chances of all the metabolic complications or worsening of those complications like diabetes, like again, fatty liver will increase. So it's not just about fat or about weight. It's also about losing muscle whenever you go on crash diet programs. RG: There is a difference between weight loss and weight management. Data tells us that less than 10% of people are able to retain their results for more than a couple of years. How do GLP-1 drugs help, in this regard? Dr AM: I'm so glad that as a fitness expert and coach, you brought up this point. This is something we are struggling with because of all the social media noise. I think what happened in weight management was that we had lifestyle changes, which we've been harping on for 40 years, and then they had bariatric surgery for the severely obese. There was a huge gap between. Now that gap has been actually filled in. That bridge has been built between lifestyle and surgery, and that actually is a long bridge because a huge number of people fall into it. That is where GLP drugs fit in. They help us lose anywhere between 10% and 20%, or even 22%, of our baseline weight, and they have completely changed the game. This is just the beginning of the explosion of GLP 1, and you'll see fascinating progress in this as the years pass. RG: Glucagon-like peptide one (GLP-1) drugs is becoming a big word now. What are these drugs? What do they do? Can you help us understand the science behind it a little bit? Dr AM: GLP-1 is a hormone that is secreted from our gut. When we eat something, there's a secretion of GLP-1 1, and it has multiple actions that have been discovered. But it has three primary actions. One action is on the pancreas to stimulate insulin secretion to help metabolise your food. At the same time, it suppresses the anti-insulin hormone, which is glucagon. That is the primary action of GLP one. The second action is that they slow down gastric emptying and stomach movement. And the third action, which was only recently understood and emphasised, is that the same GLP one travels to the brain, and it tells you to stop eating, controls your satiety. GLP 1 drugs act through the same pathway, the same receptor where the GLP 1 binds. So you have a different molecule binding to the same receptor. With molecular engineering, you keep modifying the molecule to make it more effective. The first GLP one we used was in 2005, so it's 20 years of experience with this molecule. In 2015-16, they were able to crack the code on how the brain's action on appetite and satiety is more pronounced. That really crossed the threshold, and that's what made big news. For the first time, we had a drug that could cause 15% weight loss, which was unheard of. The predecessors, which we have used liberally over the years, caused 4 or 5% the same story. RG: It feels like this is such an easy way out, and there's no price to pay. But there are side effects. So what are these? Dr AM: So there's no molecule, no drug discovered, that didn't have side effects. So let's talk of the short term side effects, which many people or most people actually face is gut related side effects, the most common amongst them being nausea, rarely vomiting but nausea. So that's one. You can get severe constipation, significant episodes of diarrhoea or upper abdominal bloating because of gastric slowing slowing of the stomach movement. The good news is that they are managed by the normal medicines, and they usually go away in most patients in a few weeks. Also, some people feel drained out or complain about a change in their relationship with food, saying that they don't enjoy it anymore. More significant side effects could be very, very rare pancreatitis, an exceedingly rare thing, not yet firmly established with these drugs. But there is a suspicion that they increase pancreatitis. The other thing you read, which can certainly put people off, is thyroid cancer. That cancer is very rare, and there's no evidence in humans at the moment to say that that cancer is increased. Again, if there's no family history of thyroid cancer and there's no history of medullary thyroid cancer, you can be very relaxed about that. The third is the muscle loss. The important point about muscle loss is that it is not a drug side effect. Muscle loss is a part of weight loss. Roughly 20% of the weight that we lose will be muscle. The last, but important one is a very rare, unproven report of some eye related problems which are being researched thoroughly. RG: In your book, you said there are people who microdose on this. How does that work? Dr AM: This is the US phenomenon when there was a shortage, and so other companies were allowed to make the drug. Then this phenomenon really picked up. And then people started controlling this, saying, 'It's my body. I know best, you know, so I'll just adjust the dose.' Microdosing, I suspect, will not be harmful unless it's done totally randomly. But I don't know how much of a benefit it offers. Apparently, there are clinics in the West that do these kinds of things, but I would not recommend them at this stage. RG: There are also positive side effects of this medicine, right? Dr AM: Research-wise, this is the most fascinating area. Drugs originally discovered for diabetes were found to have profound weight loss effects to the extent that they became weight loss drugs. Because of that, they also have other effects that clearly reduce cardiovascular events; what we call heart-related complications, go down in people who take these drugs. Diabetes patients, who are at high risk for these complications, are significantly benefiting. Also, the progression of kidney failure clearly goes down, and the need for dialysis and transplant goes down in people who are treated with these drugs. (There is also) Amazing data on the liver, the squeezing out of fat from the liver. What is most fascinating is the impact on the brain. Some of the data in Alzheimer's is absolutely amazing. Even in Parkinson's, there is some data, but we don't have the final clinical trials yet to say yes, they work. It's being tried to reduce alcoholism. They found that it works in some people, and they develop an aversion to alcohol. Those are the happy side effects that are being reported.
India Today
28-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Endocrinologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal on the happy side-effects of weight-loss drugs
New-age weight-loss drugs are exploding the pharmaceutical market, offering better results than traditional medicines. Top endocrinologist Dr. Ambrish Mithal deconstructs the many facets, including side-effects, of these GLP-1 drugs in his recently published book The Weight Loss Revolution, in an episode of India Today's said that while the GLP-1 field -- drugs that belong to the class of GLP-1 targeting the same hormone in the body -- is just beginning to explode, there'll be many newer drugs with less and less side effects and easier to most cases have shown muscle loss as a prominent result of using GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide or semaglutide, Dr. Mithal explains that losing muscle is an accompanying factor to weight loss. "In the long run, if you're not following a healthy diet, you will end up with significant muscle loss. And this is not because of the weight-loss drugs. Whenever we lose weight, we also lose muscle. If you lose 10 kg, you've lost 2-3 kg of muscle. Now, if you want to preserve that, you have to ensure adequate protein and fibre in your diet. Along with that, you have to make sure that you're exercising regularly and that exercise should include strength training," Dr. Mithal also shared what many people experience loose skin after taking these medicines. "When you lose weight rapidly, you lose subcutaneous fat. Particularly in older people where skin tends to sag anyway. If you suddenly lose weight, don't hydrate yourself well, not eating the right kind of balanced diet, then you get that little sagging on the face which people have started calling Ozempic face. Before these drugs came into the market, anyone we put on a very strict diet or someone who had bariatric surgery would see similar results," he gastrointestinal side-effects, nausea, and vomiting, Dr. Mithal addressed concerns about thyroid cancer, highlighting that there's no evidence to link the also explained the "happy side-effects" of GLP-1 medications. Besides growing body of evidence suggesting how semaglutide is linked to Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Mithal said that the benefits of the drugs are moving beyond weight loss."The evidence that they might be helping Alzheimer's by helping obesity in the brain may actually be very exciting, and even for cardiac health, Parkinson's disease. Cardiac events are reduced. Fatty liver is reduced. Kidney disease progression is reduced. But the brain effects are particularly fascinating. Sleep apnea has also gone down," he said, adding that the drugs have also helped improve fertility outcomes in women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).Currently, most GLP-1 drugs are injectable and expensive, limiting their access in India. However, new formulations and more research are on the way. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, two blockbuster fat-busting medicines, are set to gain ground in India to tackle the diabetes and obesity crisis."Remember, the GLP-1 field is just beginning to explode. There'll be many newer drugs with less and less side effects and easier to use," Dr. Mithal sayssaid.- EndsMust Watch
India Today
27-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Side effects to surprises: Dr Ambrish Mithal on India's weight-loss drug revolution
India's struggle with rising obesity and diabetes is well documented. But a revolution is now underway, one that might reshape how we manage both conditions: the rise of GLP-1-based weight loss Ambrish Mithal, India's leading endocrinologist and author of his recently published book The Weight Loss Revolution, explains why these medications are here to stay, busting misinformation with METFORMIN: A NEW ERA IN DIABETES CARE For years, metformin has been the standard first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. It's safe, inexpensive, and effective. But newer medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors are rapidly changing that equation.'With these drugs, you're moving far ahead of metformin because there is clear evidence that these drugs produce significant weight loss they protect your heart, they protect your kidney, they very likely protect your liver too. These drugs are bound to replace metformin sooner rather than later," Dr. Mithal people with type 2 diabetes in India, nearly 80 to 90%, are overweight. That makes them ideal candidates for GLP-1 drugs, which aid in weight loss while managing blood sugar levels.'The bulk, the large chunk of type 2 diabetes patients are overweight, need to lose weight, and losing weight will help them even reverse or at least treat their diabetes better,' says Dr. ALL FAT IS EQUALTraditionally, Body Mass Index (BMI) has been used to assess weight-related health risks. But Dr. Mithal points out that for Indians, BMI is misleading.'If you use just BMI, you will end up with a lot of Indians being classified as healthy when they have actually a lot of central fat or visceral fat," he said. Most people with type 2 diabetes in India, nearly 80 to 90%, are overweight. That makes them ideal candidates for GLP-1 drugs, which aid in weight loss while managing blood sugar levels. () This dangerous 'belly fat', also called visceral fat, triggers inflammation throughout the body. Dr. Mithal describes this typical South Asian pattern as TOFI -- Thin Outside, Fat ISN'T A MAGIC BULLETGLP-1 drugs now in India sold as Mounjaro and Wegovy, and semaglutide pills are not quick-fix solutions. Dr. Mithal stresses they must be part of a structured program that includes diet and exercise.'If you're using these drugs for weight reduction, don't depend on the drug alone,' he do this, he advises going on a high protein intake, adding more fibre in the diet, having small meals throughout the day and walking after MUSCLE LOSS RISKRapid weight loss, especially without strength training, can lead to muscle loss. 'If you lose 10kg, you've lost 2-3kg of muscle,' warns Dr. Mithal.'If you're using the drug just as a weight loss drug and doing nothing else you will also lose muscle.' GLP-1 drugs now in India sold as Mounjaro and Wegovy, and semaglutide pills are not quick-fix solutions. () He advises strength training and adequate protein to retain muscle mass and long-term health FACE AND OTHER SIDE EFFECTSThe popular term 'Ozempic face' refers to loose, sagging facial skin from sudden weight loss, not unique to these drugs.'Before these drugs came into the market, anyone we put on a very strict diet or someone who had bariatric surgery would have similar things.'Most side effects are gastrointestinal such as nausea, vomiting, and rare concerns include medullary thyroid cancer, although the link remains SIDE EFFECTS OF NEW-AGE DRUGSGLP-1 drugs have also known evidence of benefitting patients more than just weight and diabetes.'The data on these drugs is Alzheimer's diseas, better cardiac health, Parkinson's disease,' says Dr. Mithal. 'Sleep apnea goes down, fatty liver is reduced, and even kidney disease progression is reduced.' GLP-1 drugs have also known evidence of benefitting patients more than just weight and diabetes. () They may also improve fertility in women with PCOS. However, the drugs may reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills, leading to unintended pregnancies, famously known as Ozempic FOR EVERYONE AND NOT FOREVERThese drugs should not be used as public health tools, says Dr. Mithal. Prevention through lifestyle is still the best way to fight obesity. 'You can't eradicate obesity by using these drugs You have to eradicate obesity by preventing it," Dr. Mithal the long-term use of these medications depends on age, health goals, and reason for you're a 30-year-old, you certainly should not use a drug lifelong. I would take a deep breath after two years and see, what do I do now?' he most GLP-1 drugs are injectable and expensive, limiting their access in India. However, new formulations and more research are on the way."Remember, the GLP-1 field is just beginning to explode. There'll be many newer drugs with less and less side effects and easier to use," Dr. Mithal says.- Ends
