The new class of medication, GLP-1, stands out because it doesn’t have that impact nor negative side effects that previous medications such as amphetamines did. You simply aren’t hungry enough to overeat and the medication does the work for you. Decreased hunger causes patients to learn new eating habits because their stomach is shrinking and they’re satisfied with fewer calories.
The medicine is a naturally occurring protein, but the problem is, over the years, the protein begins to diminish. There was a study done that looked at patients who had gastric bypass surgery. After that surgery, the body was secreting this protein at 10x the amount as they were before surgery. So, really, the body naturally released that protein to control appetite after surgery. So the medicine sends a message to your brain that you are satisfied so your appetite is really reduced and you feel full and satisfied eating a reduced diet.
Yes, this brings you back to the ability to feel satisfied eating the portion size that is right for your body. Most people will lose weight faster. For patients who are larger, we will mandate that they take a multivitamin – not because they aren’t getting the nourishment that they need, but because they are losing weight so rapidly and returning to the diet that will work for them once they achieve their goals.
