Exploring the Science Behind GLP-1 Medications

October 5, 2024

When You’ve Tried Everything

If you’re overweight, you’re acutely aware of it. You look in the mirror, buy your own clothes, and live in your body. You may have also tried everything to lose weight and keep it off: diets, exercise, intermittent fasting, and more, but you haven’t been successful in reducing your weight and keeping it off long term. There are lifestyle factors involved, of course, and you’re likely exercising regularly, drinking enough water, and trying to get enough sleep. Still, you can’t shed the pounds or successfully keep them off after you lose them. Enter GLP-1 medications, game changers in the fight to manage your weight and many other areas of your health.

Why GLP-1 Medications Work

You’ve likely heard people with weight imbalances declare that part of their problem is hormonal. The latest research indicates that there’s a good deal of truth to that. One of the primary hormones related to appetite and digestion is Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), a hormone produced in the digestive tract. GLP-1 plays a key role in signaling satiety, or letting us know when we’ve had enough to eat. Research suggests that individuals with a GLP-1 imbalance may experience a weakened fullness signal, making it harder to regulate appetite.

Medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide are GLP-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 agonists. They derive their name from the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1, and play a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels within the body. Following a meal, the GLP-1 hormone signals the body’s need for increased insulin to counteract the surge in blood sugar levels. This hormone, acting as a chemical messenger, effectively maintains the body’s blood sugar balance. GLP-1 agonists stimulate the same functions as the GLP-1 hormone does, helping us:

Feel full faster
Feel full longer
Manage blood sugar to eliminate spikes that lead to hunger
Maintain more consistent blood sugar levels overall

While they were originally developed to help manage type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide were quickly found to promote weight loss. People using them lost 15% to 25.3% of their total body weight, and some people have lost even more than that.

Clearly GLP-1 agonists have changed the way medical professionals and the general public view weight loss because they help balance hormones that are imbalanced, making sustainable weight loss possible.

GLP-1 Medications Do A Body Good

The research on GLP-1 medications continues to show that it positively impacts more than blood sugar and weight management. Those with type 2 diabetes and:

High bad cholesterol
Low good cholesterol
High blood pressure
Heart failure
High risk for stroke or heart attack

may benefit from more than weight loss by taking GLP-1 medications, which can have protective cardiovascular effects.

GLP-1 medications are also being studied to determine their level of efficacy in protecting from:

Systemic inflammation
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD
Some neurodegenerative disorders

Lyons Health & Wellness

Lyons Health & Wellness in Lyons, CO is invested in helping you reclaim your health, including achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Contact us for personalized care that aligns with your goals.

Disclaimer: The information contained here was not written by a medical doctor and is intended for informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for medical advice.