GLP-1s, or drugs that are agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1they are seemingly everywhere. In recent years this class drugs for weight loss and type 2 diabetes it became not only a household name but also inevitable. Shortages they dominated the news headlines and singing commercials took over the airwaves. GLP-1s have gone so far as to disrupt food, appareland of course weight loss industry.
Yet despite the ubiquity of injectable drugs indicated for people with obesity— as it is Wegovy (semaglutide), Zepbound (tirzepatide)and Saxenda (liraglutide)— most Americans wouldn’t take them, according to a new survey.
Non-profit organization Commission of doctors for responsible medicine partnered with a business intelligence firm Morning consultation survey more than 2,200 American adults about weight loss methods. Survey resultscarried out in September, were published on October 8.
People were asked to rate their level of agreement with the following statement: “If I wanted to lose weight, I would rather take weight loss medicine in the form of an injectioninstead of changing your diet.” More than half (62%) disagreewith 14% stating that the statement does not apply to them as they do not need to lose weight. Almost three-quarters (73%) of applicable respondents disagreed.
Among people who were interested in losing weight, these groups were strongly opposed:
- Men: 75%
- baby boomers: 78%
- Asian or “Other”: 77%
- Postgraduate students: 79%
- Household income exceeds 100 thousand dollars: 78%
- City dwellers: 75%
- Northeasterners: 77%
- Registered voters: 73%
- Independent voters: 74%
“The new findings don’t mean that Americans don’t want to lose weight,” said PCRM President Dr. Neal Barnard d news about the survey. “Most would rather change their eating habits than inject drugs.”
Although the results provide a snapshot of public opinion, the question does not capture nuance healthy weight loss. AND caloric deficit is a critical component of weight loss, but ultimately only one piece of the puzzle. genes, sleep, stresshormones, physical activityand certain medications can impact on weight control. Your medical history also plays a role. Moreover, the GLP-1s approved for people with obesity are intended for patients who have had difficulty losing weight through other means and are designed to be taken in conjunction with diet and exercise.
Ph.D. Nisha Patelmedical director of obesity medicine and metabolic health program within the transplant department at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, is working to dispel the myth that taking weight loss drugs is the easy way out.
“People forget that there are strong neurohormonal factors that make it difficult not only to lose weight, but also to maintain that weight long-term,” Patel previously stated Wealth. “Medications have really helped level the playing field. It can help interrupt some of those disruptive signals.”
However, adherence to GLP-1 is a problem. According to a brief survey published in the magazine’s August issue Journal of Managed Care and Specialty Pharmacy, approximately one in three (32%) patients were still taking their medication after one year. Fewer than that (27%) took the medicine as intended.
A plant-based diet is attractive to those hoping to lose weight
The PCRM survey also asked people how much they agreed with the statement: “If a plant-based diet could cause significant weight loss, I would be interested in trying it, at least for a short time.” More than half (57%) of all respondents agreed, and 17% said they did not need to lose weight. More than three out of five (68%) respondents who want to lose weight agreed.
Among people who were interested in losing weight, these groups agreed the most:
- women: 70%
- Gen Zers: 81%
- Asian or “Other”: 76%
- Holders of university and post-graduate diplomas (equally): 69%
- Household income exceeds 100 thousand dollars: 70%
- City dwellers: 75%
- Northeasterners: 70%
- Registered voters: 69%
- Democrats: 76%
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