Are Your Patients Asking for Semaglutide?
Here's How To Elevate Weight Management with QHSLab's Comprehensive Approach
Weight loss is on many patients' minds, but it's an ever-changing landscape, and lately, it often leads to patients making a choice between pharmaceutical interventions and dietary strategies. QHSLab helps physicians combine the best of both worlds, leveraging our medical nutrition assessments and innovative resources like SmartFoods and EatWell to revolutionize the journey towards holistic health and sustainable weight management that compliments these popular pharmaceutical interventions.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
GLP-1 receptor agonists, including the renowned semaglutide marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy, have captured the spotlight in the weight loss world. The results are impressive, with documented weight reductions averaging around 34 pounds over 68 weeks. However, beneath this success lies a caveat: approximately 40% of this weight loss may involve lean muscle mass, raising concerns about potential risks like sarcopenia. The allure of GLP-1 receptor agonists is tempered by the reality of rapid weight regain upon discontinuation. This rebound, often in the form of fat, underscores the transient nature of the benefits provided by these injectables. Lifelong administration may become necessary for sustained results, presenting logistical and patient compliance hurdles.
Empowering Patients Through Medical Nutrition Therapeutic Diets
Clinical comparisons indicate that MNT diets can achieve comparable weight loss to semaglutide injections but with a more favorable impact on body composition—increasing muscle mass while reducing fat. This data suggests that MNT diets could be more beneficial for long-term health outcomes, including improved metabolic health and reduced risk of frailty. MNT diets optimize satiety and insulin management by emphasizing dietary protein intake to naturally stimulate GLP-1 secretion and advocating for balanced, low-glycemic index carbohydrates. Moreover, they promote fat loss and prioritize the preservation or gain of muscle mass, unlocking the potential for long-term health benefits.
Enter QHSLab
At QHSLab, we redefine the paradigm of weight management by integrating medical nutrition assessments into the equation. Our innovative resources which we call Health Journey because they are intended to be short yet meaningful interventions, such as our SmartFoods and EatWell programs, support individuals embarking on their weight-health journey, whether they choose a pharmaceutical intervention or not. These tools provide personalized assessments and tailored dietary and lifestyle guidance, empowering patients and healthcare professionals to navigate the complexities of nutrition with confidence. Clinical insights underscore the transformative potential of QHSLab's comprehensive approach. While GLP-1 receptor agonists provide a powerful tool for rapid weight reduction, the synergy of medical nutrition assessments and MNT diets offers a sustainable, health-centric alternative. By bridging the gap between pharmaceutical interventions and dietary strategies, QHSLab pioneers a new era in weight management, where personalized care and holistic well-being take center stage. In the journey towards sustainable weight management, QHSLab empowers individuals to reclaim control of their health and well-being.
Learn more about our Lifestyle and Preventive Care Assessments and Interventions.
References:
Wilding JPH et al. "Once weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity." N Engl J Med 384:989-1002 (2021) doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
Wilding JPH et al. "Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension." Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism 24: 1553-1564 (2022) doi: 10.1111/dom.14725
Markovic TP et al. "The determinants of glycemic responses to diet restriction and weight loss in obesity and NIDDM." Diabetes Care 21:687-694 (1998) doi: 10.2337/diacare.21.5.687
Stentz FB et al. "High protein diet leads to pre-diabetes remission and positive changes in incretins and cardiovascular risk factors." Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 31:1227-1237 (2021) doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2020.11.027