Texas Doctor Speaks On New Weight Loss Injections And When They Should Be Used

Dr. Jaime Almandoz of UT Southwestern speaks with WFAA about new weight loss medication and when it should be used.

Some know these drugs through brand names such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound. Others know it as semaglutide.

They all belong to the GLP-1 agonist class of drugs.

GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide 1, which is a naturally occurring hormone that triggers an insulin release in your pancreas when you eat. That release in turn lowers your blood sugar.

But GLP-1 also slows your digestion and helps you feel fuller for a longer period of time.

GLP-1 agonists, such as these medications, mimic the action of this hormone.

Initially, doctors viewed them as treatment for diabetes. That’s how Ozempic gained FDA approval in 2017.

Then, in 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss. Zepbound followed in 2023.

And things took off from there.

The analytics firm Trilliant Health tracked a 300-percent increase in Ozempic prescriptions nationwide from 2020 to 2022, and a 132 percent increase in patients on these drugs from 2021 to 2022.

“I’ve been treating obesity at UT Southwestern since 2012 and using these medications since the start of my career,” said Dr. Jaime Almandoz, medical director of UT Southwestern’s Weight Wellness Program and assistant professor of internal medicine. “From what I’ve seen, these medications are largely very safe and effective, and are used very well for treating not just obesity but controlling complications related to obesity.”

FULL STORY: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/weight-loss-injections-ozempic-wegovy-mounjaro-zepbound-semaglutide-effects/287-15fa79fc-effe-4f37-965c-21e8e31543cc