Medicines such as Ozempic from Novo Nordisk, and the Mounjaro from Eli Lilly, have gained popularity due to their weight loss effects. Although they are indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, these medications reduce appetite and increase the feeling of satiety, promoting significant weight loss.
However, for these effects to be long-lasting, sustainable and, above all, healthy, it is important that they are included in the patient’s routine along with specific dietary strategies and integrating other care that goes beyond the regular application of these medications.
“These medications need to be associated with dietary reeducation, ongoing medical monitoring and, above all, long-term planning to avoid regaining the weight lost and ensure good overall health,” says Isabella Reis, a nutritionist at Seed, a nutrition clinic located in São Paulo.
How do Ozempic and Mounjaro lead to weight loss?
Ozempic and Mounjaro, despite having the same indication and similar results, are composed of different active ingredients. The first is composed of semaglutide a drug from the class of GLP-1 hormone analogues that acts on insulin secretion by the pancreas, regulating blood glucose and also promoting appetite reduction, as explained by Lorena Lima Amato, in an article previously published in CNN .
In fact, semaglutide is the same active ingredient as Wegovy a Novo Nordisk drug indicated for the treatment of obesity. The slimming pen was approved in Brazil in January 2023 by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), and has been available for sale since the end of July this year.
Mounjaro is composed of tirzepatide a dual agonist molecule of GLP-1 and GIP, hormones generated in the intestine and released after meals. This means that the drug has the ability to stimulate the action of both GLP-1 and GIP, increasing the production of insulin by the pancreas to maintain blood sugar control.
In a study, Mounjaro was shown to be more effective than Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss. In the analysis, both drugs were effective for weight loss, but 82% of people taking tirzepatide achieved a 5% reduction in their initial weight after a year of use, compared with about 67% of those taking semaglutide.
How to maintain weight loss for longer without health risks?
Despite their benefits in treating obesity, medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro should be used with caution and under medical supervision. This is because the reduced appetite caused by them can lead to nutritional deficiencies, such as the loss of vitamins and minerals. “Eating less does not necessarily mean eating better,” warns Reis. “This is where personalized nutrition becomes crucial to avoid unwanted side effects, such as loss of muscle mass or weakness.”
To achieve this, one of the recommendations is to divide up your meals to provide greater nutritional support to your body. “With reduced appetite, the ideal is to consume foods with high nutritional potential and not consume ’empty calories’. This means having a diet with plenty of nutrients and even with food supplements, which can be very interesting in these cases”, advises Mônica Magalhães, nutritionist at Seed.
In addition to avoiding nutrient deficiencies, maintaining nutritional monitoring is essential to avoid the so-called “yo-yo effect” — that is, the weight regain after stopping the use of these medications. According to Magalhães, it is important to have a controlled weaning plan, associated with a nutritional and physical maintenance program to avoid rebounds.
“It may be interesting to use another substitute in the form of supplements when you stop using these medications. There are some formula suggestions that can have a very similar effect, helping with satiety, modulating the glycemic index of foods and insulin resistance,” says the specialist.
Physical activity, combined with a well-structured eating plan, should also be part of the treatment. This is because medications that promote rapid weight loss can lead to loss of muscle mass — and, consequently, to unwanted aesthetic effects, such as sagging skin and “Ozempic head,” as pointed out by Ricardo Barroso, endocrinologist and director of SBEM-SP (Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism – São Paulo Region), in an article previously published in CNN .
“To prevent muscle mass loss, it is important to have protein support throughout the treatment. In addition to protein supplements, creatine can be useful for maintaining lean mass,” says Reis. “And all this without mentioning physical exercise. Weight training should not be left aside during this process,” he reiterates.
Psychological factors must also be taken into account
Having support from mental health professionals, such as psychologists and psychiatrists, is also important during the weight loss process. This is because the uninformed use of this type of treatment can generate anxiety, frustration and unrealistic expectations. “Many patients end up comparing themselves to unrealistic standards of perfect bodies propagated on social media, which can destabilize the treatment,” comments Magalhães.
When promoting a healthy, balanced and sustainable lifestyle, there is also the importance of an informative treatment, which prepares the patient not only physically, but mentally and emotionally, for the changes that the body and mind will face.
This content was originally published in Ozempic and Mounjaro help you lose weight, but use requires care; find out more on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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