Healthy Weight: GLP-1 Drugs, Fasting & Proper Nutrition

Written By Jennifer McClung

Losing weight. Maintaining a healthy weight. Both can be significantly challenging, and let’s face it, really frustrating at times. Especially with all the new information and advice out there – from a Google AI search to the Instagram and TikTok experts – figuring out the right, healthy, and safe path to being your healthiest can seem daunting.

 

To help, below we’ve had Skylar Bluebird, PA, walk through the biggest things happening around weight loss and healthy weight maintenance right now: GLP-1 drugs, fasting, and what is considered proper nutrition.

 

Is GLP-1 Good for Weight Loss?

GLP-1s (glucagon-like-peptide-1 agonists) have been shown to be effective but complex, and like any medication, they do come with potential side effects to watch out for.

 GLP-1s are becoming popular right now, and there is a lot of “buzz” online that often lacks scientific backing or accuracy. When we talk about GLP-1s, we feel it’s critical to emphasize that these are potentially beneficial tools for individuals struggling with obesity, managing Type 2 diabetes, and who needs to lose a significant amount of weight. GLP-1s are not magic bullets. Lifestyle changes, and healthy routines are critical, and will always override medication like this long-term.

 

Potential Benefits of GLP-1s

  • Can help with lowering blood sugar and promoting weight loss

  • Can help with improving cardiovascular protection and reduce the risk of heart attack stroke or cardiovascular death

  • Can help mimic natural hormonal activity and support appetite regulation

  • For some patients, GLP1-s can help achieve blood sugar control without insulin and reverse diabetes or pre-diabetes

Important Considerations Before Using a GLP-1

  • It is not a standalone solution to weight loss, poor diet or diabetes

  • It should never be used alone but always within a regulated program that includes a healthy diet, exercise, and lifestyle and behavioral changes that support healthier living

  • Nausea, vomiting, constipation, and even pancreatitis are noted risks

  • Weight is often regained after stopping the use of a GLP-1 making it a long-term commitment, and even more weight can be gained if this diet and lifestyle changes are not prioritized during usage periods

  • High costs and variable insurance coverage are barriers to accessing GLP-1s for some

 

Most importantly, GLP-1s are not equally effective for everyone and require careful monitoring. Moreover, people who are not overweight, and who have an eating disorder or history with one, should not use GLP-1s. Oversight is critical for using GLP-1s as cautioned by UCSF Magazine and National Geographic recently.

 

Intermittent Fasting: Good or Bad

 

Intermittent fasting can offer some potential benefits, but some individuals should be cautious or even avoid fasting altogether. Intermittent fasting (IF) should always be done with medical guidance, but it can help with improving insulin sensitivity, better heart heath, weight loss, and cellular repair.

 

From a doctor’s view, fasting is never a cure-all. It can be a tool to use within a guided weight loss program, and research shows that not all fasting methods are equal. Effects vary based on method, and the quality of the food still matters more than anything. Moreover, safety is a critical concern, and we never recommend fasting without consulting a doctor first. This will help you avoid risks like dizziness, extreme lethargy, and potential medication complications.

 

Potential Benefits of Intermittent Fasting

  • Help reduce body weight

  • Improve blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure

  • May help with cellular repair and metabolic health

  • Can help lower resting heart

 

Who Should Avoid Fasting or Be Cautious When Fasting

  • People who have a risk of low blood sugar (diabetes)

  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding

  • If you have an eating disorder or history with one

  • If you currently have heart, kidney, or liver disease

  • If you take specific medications, especially prescriptions for blood pressure, blood sugar, or blood thinners

  • If you are a child, teenager, or older adult over the age of 65

 

 

Why is Proper Nutrition So Hard?

This is an ongoing challenge for many, and it’s partly due to the rising cost of living and groceries, the unstable economy, and changes in lifestyle over the last few decades. But for many, proper nutrition is hard because the information available online is too much, too confusing, too contradictory, and not made for one-size-fits-all approaches. 

 

Proper nutrition means developing a dietary plan that works for your body to help it function and feel optimal. A proper nutritional approach is developed based on your age, weight, hormones, body type, activity level, blood work, existing health conditions (diabetes, heart disease, etc.), and other elements like any vitamin deficiency or food allergies (gluten or dairy).

 

Eating a diet with proper nutrition involves a balanced mix of proteins, carbohydrates, and fast, that properly support your individual needs.

If you need help with weight and diet, please schedule with one of our providers to learn more about options for safe, healthy weight loss.

Jennifer McClung
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