Weight-loss drugs & viral diet trends: Are they worth it for weight management?

If yoursquove ever tried to lose weight therersquos a good chance you might have heard about weightloss drugs like semaglutide Ozempic and tirzepatide or stumbled upon viral diet trends on social media There is a lot of weight loss advice on the Internet Not all of it is proven Not all of it is suitable for everyoneAs pills offering quick weight loss solutions flood the market and new diet trends that can significantly alter your eating habits emerge every few days navigating onersquos weight loss journey can become a complex process sometimes even leading people to fall into ineffective and harmful trapsAccording to the World Health Organisation WHO 25 billion adults worldwide were overweight in 2022 Of these 890 million were living with obesity which translates to 1 in 8 people in the world living with obesityWeight loss aspirations can range from a lifestyle choice to a serious medical necessity for managing chronic diseases Hence it becomes important to follow proven methods and advice from medical experts to navigate the journeyWe speak to experts to determine the effectiveness and side effects of weightloss drugs and bust myths about viral dieting adviceAre weightloss drugs worth itWhile Ozempic originally meant for treating type 2 diabetes has been a buzzword for a good part of 2023 and 2024 for its weight loss benefits other drugs like tirzepatide are also gaining traction for the same purposeIn July this year India gave the initial nod to tirzepatide being marketed and sold in India for type 2 diabetes treatment Its weight loss effects are still under reviewDr Aparna Govil Bhasker Consultant Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon MetaHeal Laparoscopy and Bariatric Surgery Center Mumbai Saifee Apollo and Namaha Hospitals Mumbai Dr Rajiv Kovil Head of DiabetologyZandra Healthcare and Cofounder of Rang De Neela initiative and Dr Sonali Kagne Consultant Endocrinology Sir HN Reliance Hospital Mumbai shed light on the functioning benefits and sideeffects of weightloss drugsHow does tirzepatide drug work on weight lossBhasker Tirzepatide works by mimicking two natural hormones in the body GLP1 and GIP which help control blood sugar This drug is sometimes referred to as a ldquotwincretinrdquo By activating the receptors for these hormones tirzepatide helps the body release insulin more effectively and reduces the release of another hormone called glucagon This improves the bodys ability to manage blood sugar levels Additionally it slows down how quickly the stomach empties and increases feelings of fullness and satiety after eating which can lead to reduced food intake and subsequent weight lossGovil Tirzepatide which is a twincretin recently got a DCGI approval to be marketed in India for diabetes based on its Surpass group of studies It also has another group of studies called Surmount based on which it has got an indication for obesity also in many countries including the USSo these drugs the whole class of drugs which are called GLP 1 at smaller dosages they work as a antidiabetes or ant hyperglycemic drugs and at slightly higher dosages they work for weight loss They have multiple mechanisms of actionOne is that they secrete insulin only in the presence of nutrition in the stomach so there is no low sugar Two it makes the gastric emptying or the movement of the stomach slightly slower so satiety is faster It also works on the brain and satiety for food is lesser and you feel satisfied with food at lesser sugar or amount of food or what is actually required for you So thats how all these drugs work on diabetes as well as weight lossKagne Tirzepatide is a dual glucagonlike peptide1 GLP1 and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide GIP receptor agonist dual agonist It was originally developed to improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes These drugs mimic the action of GLP1 a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin secretion and inhibiting glucagon release However they also have significant effects on weight loss primarily through the following mechanismsbull Appetite Suppression GLP1 receptor agonists slow down gastric emptying and promote a feeling of fullness satiety which reduces overall food intakebull Reduced Food Cravings These drugs stimulate areas of the brain that control appetite and reward leading to reduced cravings for highcalorie foodsAre drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide Ozempic safe for weight loss Do they pose any harmssideeffectsBhasker Tirzepatide can primarily cause gastrointestinal side effects like stomach pain constipation decreased appetite diarrhoea nausea and vomiting Other less common side effects include heartburn rapid heart rate fever swelling of the face and itchy or red skinPeople who are already taking similar medications like liraglutide or semaglutide must avoid taking this drug People at risk for certain thyroid cancers or with a history of specific endocrine tumours multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 must avoid this drug because it might increase the risk of developing these cancersKovil Tirzipatide and semaglutide have gone through a lot of studies And theres a lot of robustness of data and pharmacovigilance on both these molecules which are blockbuster globally There is no signal of any significant harm or side effects GLP 1 works by reducing the movement of the stomach So youre bound to have some upper GI side effects like nausea vomiting diarrhea There used to be a theoretical risk of pancreatic pancreatitis which has not been seen in the Sustain Pioneer Step Surpass and Surmount studies of both these moleculesKagne Using semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight loss has shown promising results in clinical trials with many patients achieving significant weight reduction Both molecules are now approved for weight loss in individuals without underlying diabetes mellitus However the decision to use these drugs solely for weight loss should be made carefully considering the following pointsbull Eligibility Not everyone is a suitable candidate for these medications They are typically recommended for individuals with a body mass Index BMI over 30 or over 27 with weightrelated comorbidities such as hypertension or dyslipidemiabull Side effects Common side effects include nausea vomiting diarrhea and constipation In some cases patients may experience more serious side effects like pancreatitis or gall bladder diseasebull Medical supervision Timely guidance of a healthcare professional is essentialbull Longterm use The longterm safety and effectiveness of these drugs for weight loss are still being studied Continuous monitoring is essential to assess potential risks and benefitsAre these drugs a magical solution for weight lossBhasker There are no magical solutions for chronic conditions like obesity but these drugs offer significant hope They can be very effective for managing weight in patients with grade 1 and grade 2 obesity and can even help maintain weight loss after bariatric surgery in patients with very severe obesity While they dont guarantee success for everyone many people find them beneficial Its important to remember that results can vary and what works for one person might not work for anotherKovil Drugs can never be a magic solution for weight loss Weight loss requires a lot of cognitive behavioural change It requires a very motivated person who follows strict lifestyle changes which includes timing of meal type of meal nutrition of meal along with a lot of exercise The lifestyle as well as cognitive behavioural change continue to remain the cornerstones for weight loss but supplementary drugs are going to be required and pharmacotherapy gives a helping hand to the lifestyle measures We treat many other chronic disorders like diabetes blood pressure and cholesterol abnormalities where lifestyle remains the cornerstone of treatment and drugs are added on Similarly obesity is a disorder Lifestyle will remain the cornerstone of treatment but drugs and pharmacotherapy will be required for long termWhat treatment options and lifestyle changes are advisable for weight loss and battling obesityBhasker Obesity like diabetes hypertension heart disease and cancer is a chronic progressive condition The treatment depends on the stage and severity of the disease Prevention is ideal but medical help is necessary for those already above a certain weightFor someone who is overweight supervised dietary changes and lifestyle modifications may be sufficient For individuals with grade 1 and grade 2 obesity treatment might include a combination of diet amp lifestyle changes drug therapy or endoscopic bariatric procedures depending on the severity and associated health conditions In cases of uncontrolled diabetes metabolic surgery might be considered For those with grade 3 obesity and beyond bariatric surgery possibly combined with drug therapy may be the appropriate treatmentUltimately the right approach depends on a clinical evaluation and tailoring the treatment to the individuals needs There arent simple alternatives to treatment options each case requires a specific strategy Both Dr Bhasker and Dr Kovil revealed that there is great demand for such weightloss drugs in IndiaAs awareness about health risks of overweight and obesity grows so does the interest in medical interventions to complement lifestyle changes and dietary modifications However it is crucial to consult a medical expert before using these weightloss drugsDebunking nutrition myths about viral diet trends for weight lossRajeshwari V Shetty HOD Nutrition amp Dietetics S L Raheja Hospital Mahim A Fortis Associate debunks nutrition myths about diet trends that claim to aid weight lossCan only lsquoeating rightrsquo lead to weight lossShetty No Four pillars are necessary for weight loss One is eating right eating a balanced diet Second is exercise Third is holistic wellness Fourth is taking care of your sleep If you are sleeping for less than six hours it can affect your circadian rhythm also which can result in hormonal imbalance affecting your weight So all these factors are importantDo these viral diet trends really help in weight loss1 Oatzempic and RicezempicA clever wordplay on the popular weightloss drug Ozempic these trends are touted to be a safer and cheaper version of the same for weight lossOatzempic is a breakfast drink of oats blended with lime juice and water whereas Ricezempic is made by soaking uncooked rice with lime juice and then straining it to drink the leftover starchy water Proponents claim these are effective in weight lossShetty These are all shortterm weight loss remedies You cant survive only on oats or rice Rice is also a carbohydrate which is not going to help you If people have uncontrolled diabetes they cannot have this rice drink You lose out on other nutrients also because youre just focusing on a single nutrient One needs to follow a balanced diet also2 Intermittent fastingShetty Yes it does help in weight loss But I wouldnt advise it for a long term Also intermittent fasting is not safe for everyone If you are pregnant or have medical issues like diabetes you need to talk to your doctor before starting intermittent fasting It has to be structured An expert has to tell you exactly what to do and then to do and what how much to eat etc3 Dukan dietThe Dukan Diet is split into four phases each one focusing on specific nutrientsPhase 1 Attack Lean proteinsPhase 2 Cruise Lean proteins vegetables 2 tablespoons of oat bran dailyPhase 3 Consolidation Lean proteins starchy fruits and veggies two celebration meals a weekPhase 4 Stabilisation Eat anything one highprotein day oat bran dailyShetty The people who are behind the Dukan diet claim that it does help in weight loss But it also has limitations It is based on cutting down on so many things and only focusing on lean proteins So only focusing on one or two things leads to missing out on other nutrients which can also cause nutrient deficiencies also With such restrictive diets people also get tired They lose interestIt also has positive points One lean proteins are good Second thing the diet doesnt ask you to measure or weigh things So you feel more satiety full for a longer time This can lead to a decreased calorie intake4 7second coffee loopholeIt states that drinking black coffee with added ingredients like lemon and cinnamon within seven seconds of feeling hungry can curb hunger and reduce appetiteShetty It does help to reduce your appetite But itrsquos only caffeine It releases hormones which temporarily suppress the appetite The timing is important However there are no studies supporting it Just taking coffee is not going to help because this is also again focusing on a single nutrient and caffeine also has its side effects What are some healthy nutrition tips that can aid weight lossbull You can consume healthy salads in which you add a little of everything ndash seeds vegetables proteins etc You can add something for flavour also and a little of vitamin C like lemonbull Healthy vegetable soups are also fulfilling You can do variations adding different whole grain cereals barley oats dals etcbull Evening time is a very dangerous because this is a time when people generally feel hungry if they have missed a meal because of their busy schedule So that is a time when they go in for their vada pav etc I would suggest to have roasted chana or healthy nuts as a snackbull There are two types of fruits ndash waterbased fruits and fleshy fruits One should focus more on waterbased fruits like muskmelon watermelon papaya etcbull Plate pattern is important If you divide your plate into four parts one half of the full plate should be vegetables one fourth should be carbs and one fourth should be proteinDisclaimer This information does not replace professional medical advice Consult a qualified specialist nutritionist or your physician for personalised guidance