Study: Real-world results of GLP-1 drugs don't match trials

[Lifeworthliving]

Some folks are getting anti-inflammatory assistance from their GLP1s, so in that case they would be staying on it for a true medical reason (it's really hard to find an anti-inflammatory which actually works, outside of predisone of course). Been autoimmune for 33 years, have much experience with chronic high inflammation. And yes, I did get anti-inflammatory relief from the Reta, but I will still be investigating other alternatives first (Thymosin Alpha 1 for example) before committing to having to take Reta forever just for inflammation relief.

As for the studies - being an experiment they could not dictate a particular diet or exercise routine as prerequisites - they are variables that if introduced would invalidate the results of the study (which diet to follow? which exercise routine to follow? is the weight loss due to a particular diet or exercise? etc etc etc)

Unfortunately, the lack of prescribed diet and exercise in the study followed by successful weight loss without it has encouraged folks to follow the example it has set because hey, they didn't diet or exercise and they lost weight, so I can do it, too.

Yes to each his own, but successful weight loss and maintenance requires a changed mindset and habits. Just taking a GLP1 is not the kind of personal transformation that makes for long lasting weight maintenance. Obviously the next addictive substance will be (actually already is) GLP1s. And I refuse to be a GLP1 addict.

Something I don’t see mentioned often enough is the anti-inflammatory side of these meds. I grew up doing sports and dance, and my knees have paid the price. I’m still working on the last 50 lbs (down 80 so far), but my knee pain completely disappeared when I started Zepbound/Tirz. It’s honestly been incredible; nothing else has touched that pain like this, being able to lift again with no knee pain!

On top of that, I used to get sick every time I traveled or a couple of times a year with the seasons. But in the last 18 months? Not even a sniffle. I know it’s just one person’s experience, but for me, it’s been a game-changer.

 

[Calm Logic]

Study Assesses Weight Reduction and Glycemic Status With GLP-1 Medications | Pharmacy Times

Real-world studies reveal GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide yield less weight loss than clinical trials, highlighting treatment discontinuation challenges.

www.pharmacytimes.com

Injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists show reduced efficacy in real-world settings due to discontinuation and lower dosages.

 

[lemon lady]

The usual answer to this question is STACK STACK and STACK. If Reta doesn't work fast enough stack cagri, if Tirz doesn't work well enough stack with Reta, etc etc etc.

I almost bought into this stacking madness when I first investigated peptides but thankfully I came to my senses.

The peptide bros really try to upsell all the peptides at once

 

[cldfront]

I've been training for 25 years to lose weight. I just wasn't able to actually stick to any of the methods without the medication. Been prancing around in the starting gate, and it's like the gun finally went off and the doors opened. 27% down after 9 months.

FWIW, it feels to me like there's some flavor of fat-shaming in this thread. Yikes to that. Not everyone has been in training, and they get all the grace from me. I'm just glad to be one of the lucky ones.

 

[StonePny]

Eating Atkins/low carb/ketogenic worked amazingly for me---in my 30's. We are very complex beings, and hormone shifts, life experiences (ie giant stressors and tragedies) aging, all collaborate against us.

I've always been a healthy diet person, but suddenly one day you have a glass of wine and your feet swell up. Tomatoes make your joints hurt, etc. 2K calories a day starts to make you a little fluffy. Metabolically, we change and it's different for everyone. All of a sudden my Orangetheory workouts were laying me up for days, as I was overstimulating my cortisol and my body saw intense workouts as the enemy.

I went on tirzepatide (with my doctor's blessing) because I can't take the biologics or other rx meds for Psoriatic Arthritis, due to the immunosuppresion. I will take it FOREVER because I feel physically so much better. Having autoimmune issues makes it hard to "do all the right things" so, yes, there is SO much more to weight, health, etc than just "eat less, workout more."

 

[StonePny]

I get frustrated about this as well. What is also frustrating is assuming that everyone has the same access to everything. I have patients who do not have enough money to buy groceries that will last the full month. One of my patient's PCP told her to eat more fresh fruits and veg. She said "I can buy my three kids a pizza that will be meal for all of them, or I can buy three apples."

She supplements at food banks, which are filled with rice, pastas, potatoes, low nutrient food and never anything fresh. Not necessarily bad foods once on while, but their whole diet is based on cheap carbs - and she can't do anything about it.

A lot of people in this country are just doing the best they can to get by, and they are barely scraping up enough to do that. Not everyone can afford multiple trips to their PCP, gym memberships, healthy food, designer diets. Not everyone is healthy enough to exercise. I feel blessed and am very grateful that I am able to do these things.

I don't think the poster you are referring to meant to come off as an expert. I think sometimes we just get so excited when we find something that really works that we just want to shout it out to the world.

I could not love this more, you are so right about all of it.

And I was going to comment the same thing, that I think the commenter was just excited about their weight success and wasn't being preachy.

I had a good friend who had gastric bypass surgery, and I was so happy for her because she lost a lot and was doing all the right things. But in her excitement, it was ALL she talked about, she got carried away (insufferable!) sometimes. I remember asking what she was doing one day and after telling me all the exercise she was doing for the last three days, her saying that she was planning to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.

I'm glad she couldn't see me rolling my eyes. I still love her though.

 

[Calm Logic]

The False Promises of Wellness Culture - JSTOR Daily

Wellness is everywhere today: juice cleanses, Soulcycle classes, self-care. The roots of the trend can be found in nineteenth-century health-consciousness.

daily.jstor.org

Wellness culture has promised success for more than a century, success in the struggle for survival through bodily control and self-discipline. The modern world is a Darwinian place: As long as there is disenchantment with it, there will be the false redemption of wellness.

 

[micropapaya]

Similarly:

7 Reasons You Aren't Losing Weight on Weight Loss Drugs

I also think it's odd that the docs are not testing more for hormone levels. I mean, if we are injecting ourselves anyway, why not test for test too? Even if a doc is against TRT or hormone therapy for some reason, it doesn't hurt to do labwork to know what is going on.

My doctor luckily does a hormone panel for me since I have PCOS. Considering how hormones can impact weightloss, I'm also surprised it's not part of a standard bloodwork panel for weightloss

 

[YoYoFat]

I guess I’ve done better than this study says I should have. I’ve lost 25% in 10 months.

 

[m100568]

44% in 11 months (107lbs). But that was stacking tirz and reta on a strict 1,200 cal / day diet. I know how to diet. I've just never had such a tool to work with before.

 

[byefatlicia]

I am a carb addict! diets for me rarely lasted beyond my first bite of the food drug of the moment that I took a tiny break for. This is a tool for me that has empowered me and probably will prolong my life. Any risks associated are less than my probability for heart attack or stroke were before my friend and my sister told me about Tirz. I've never been so hopeful! I'll be on it how ever long I need to be and possibly forever if needed. My kids and my grand kids don't want to see me go early. And that's where I was headed.

 

[rtw01]

It's really interesting. The relationship with carbohydrates and metabolic function is very complex. I've spent a month in Europe eating carbohydrates like every meal was my last, and didn't gain more than a pound. I've spent months doing no-carb dieting in North America and have seen weight drop off. I think there are a few factors at play here. Hormonal changes are key, and having some of the newer GLP tools allow for our bodies to adjust, adapt, and improve. Some people live to eat, others eat to live. GLPs allow us to eat to live, whether we want to or not.