GLP-1s and those last few stubborn pounds.
The "last 5-12lbs" are often the hardest to get off. If you’ve been trying to get that last bit of weight off—without lasting success—it’s time to take a look at what’s going on underneath the surface.
Why?
It all comes down to biochemistry. Your body is a very delicate combination of different molecules and hormones that requires everything to be in perfect balance in order to operate efficiently and effectively. If something is off — for example, if you are insulin resistance, have metabolic syndrome or thyroid issues — you can put the correct food into your body but it will not be processed correctly, and you will not lose weight. So frustrating, no?!
Being overweight/carrying excess weight is the *symptom* of something going on internally—something is not quite working quite underneath the surface. Being overweight is not due to a lack of willpower.
Let's look at an example: If you walk into a party and 70% of people are overweight, each person will have a specific, unique reason as to why this is the case, even though each person is presenting the same symptom of being overweight. This is why a "one size fits all plan" doesn't work. Have you ever gone on the same diet as a close friend with very different results? Or tried the same diet plan that worked for you 3 years ago....except magically it didn't work this time? Yup! Your body has changed. Your body is constantly changing and evolving—especially if you are female—and in order to lose weight, you need to a program tailored to your specific body e.g. based off of the results of comprehensive blood work.
So let's go back to those last 5-12lbs that you can't seem to lose. A handful of things could be happening that are preventing you from losing weight but the most common issues we see are insulin resistance (one telltale sign is carrying the excess weight in your mid-region), out of control ghrelin and leptin levels (the hormones that control your hunger and satiety) and metabolic syndrome.
You could have the strongest willpower in the world but without addressing the underlying root issue(s), you are not going to have long term success in losing, and keeping off, those last few pounds.
And how does medication come into play?
With a small dose of a GLP-1 (like Ozempic (semaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide)), paired with the correct food plan, you can address and correct the underlying issues so that you can finally lose this weight and get to your goal weight. We are very conservative when it comes to medication—we use it during the weight loss phase as one part of the weight loss equation, and we can absolutely off-ramp you at goal. Medication is just one piece of the puzzle—but if you've been trying to lose weight for more than 4 weeks with no success, often this can be the deciding factor that helps you get your goal—finally!
Which medication to take? As with all prescription medications, your doctor will decide what is the best fit for you based on a myriad of factors: your medical history, current medical conditions, lab work and lifestyle. The key take-away here is that you and your doctor together will decide if medication is a good fit. You do not have to have a BMI 30 in order for your doctor to determine that this medication would be beneficial to you and your health goals.
More questions on this? Send us a note: hello@diatahealth.com