November 14, 2024 • 7 mins
THE CAUTIONARY PART OF WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS To be clear, I am NOT anti-weight loss drugs. They have been life changing for several people I know and I think you should lose weight in a way that works best for you. That being said, there are some things you should know before embarking on that path and I've got Pharmacist and integrative health expert Dr. Swathi Varanasi-Diaz joining us to break down the lesser-known dangers of these popular medications and how we can mitigate the risks. She's on at 1pm. Find out more by clicking here.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I've got a guess that's coming up to talk about
something that we've talked about quite a bit on this show,
and that is weight loss drugs that are becoming more
and more popular. And I said before, I am not
opposed necessarily to any kind of weight loss help. I
want people to live a happy and healthy life, but
I do want people to make an informed decision about
their choices when it comes to their health. So joining
(00:23):
me now, doctor Swathi Veronasi Das. She is a doctor
of pharmacy an integrative health expert. Doctor Swathy, welcome to
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Thank you so much for having me. Well, you know, it.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Seems like GLP one inhibitors are the conversation that everyone's
having right now. And I know multiple people personally that
have really o their lives changed by these drugs. But
there are also a lot of side effects that people
are not talking about. And I wanted to kind of
bring you on because I want, as I said, informed
decision making is what I'm all about here. So, doctor Swathy,
(00:57):
what kind of stuff are you seeing with these ones?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So I'm seeing GLP ones probably as often as you're
seeing GLP one, So they're everywhere and people are really
thinking like, Okay, this is the perfect fit for everyone,
It's a magic bullet that's going to work immediately, and
that perhaps there are.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
No side effects, and so I'm here to bust those men.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Are what are the big things that people need to
watch out for? What are the side effects that people
should be the most concerned about.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So I would say there are four.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The first one is the gasperintestinal issues or the stomach issues,
so that's nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and issues with the
stomach not emptying properly, which could lead to long term.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Chronic digestive problems. The second one.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Is, you know, the way it's FDA approved right now,
it's only fd approved for certain patient populations. So if
you have a BMI of over twenty seven plus another
chronic condition, or if you have a BMI of over thirty,
but a lot of people who are taking the medication
actually have a be a mile lower than twenty seven,
and so we actually don't have the research right now
(02:05):
to understand how the drug from an evidence based informed perspective,
how it works.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
For that patient population.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
The third thing is potential mental health side effects. So
this could be you know, with fatigue, mood swings, and
even more. And then the final thing is accelerated muscle loss.
So when patients are taking this medication, you know they're
taking it, they're losing weight, but they're losing a combination
(02:32):
of that and muscle rather than just that.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So I just saw today as well, there was a
story in UH I did not grab it for the blog.
I should have that A lot, like more than fifty
percent of people who stopped taking these drugs actually gained
the weight back. Have you seen that as well?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, So it's called rebound weight gain, and it's pretty
common with a lot of weight loss medications, inclusive of
the GLP one agnes. So, and that's why the GLP
on amnes we're FDA proof for long term use, because
you know, if you stop taking it, the chance of
gaining the weight back and potentially more is high.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So what dietary changes can people make to avoid digestive complications?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Yeah, so the first thing I would say is to
eat small, more frequent meals and focus on whole foods.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So this is nutrient dense foods that you.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Know are high protein, high fiber, lots of vegetables. Think
about the perimeter of the grocery store with the produce
section with fruits, vegetables, eating the rainbow, and thinking about
whole grains as well.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Is it easier for people to make healthier choices if
they're not hungry?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I don't think so. I can't think.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
It actually comes down to what people like to eat,
and so it's part of the lifestyle change when it
comes to weight management or weight loss. Rather than immediately thinking, Okay,
I'm less hunger, I'm going to choose things that are healthier. Right.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Is there anything that you can do to preserve muscle
mass while taking a GLP one inhibitor.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yes, So we just talked a little bit about nutrition.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I also think it's very important to touch on the
importance of movement, so getting active, going for a walk,
taking your dog for the walk, and also incorporating some
resistance training because that really supports muscle health and also
bone health, which leads to longevity.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
So nutrition and movements super important.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
The third thing, because I know we lead such busy lives,
is we want to also think about supplements in a
strategic way.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So I have four supplements that I recommend.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
The first one is Omega three fatty acids, so that
can reduce muscle inflammation and support protein synthesis.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Branch chain amino acids.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Like lucine, which you can get in a lot of
different supplements that can prevent muscle breakdown.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
If you feel like you're not getting.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Enough protein powder, I also recommend a high quality protein
powder that could be way based or plant based, depending
on your dietary preference.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And then the fourth one is quortotropin.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
So that's a natural compound derived from fertilized raw egg
yuke and in clinical trials it showed that it boosted
muscle protein synthesis up to eighteen percent more in patients
that we're not exercising, and so for those who are
on the go, super busy, fordotropin could be a great
way to, you know, ensure that you're preserving muscle. And
(05:25):
a supplement out there that you can consider is called
myos MD. Myos m D. Currently you can only get
it through your healthcare provider. I'm actually on their medical
advisory board because once I looked at the research, I
was like, Wow, I have to get involved in this
and really help promote that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
You know, forordotropin can be so beneficial for so many people.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
You mentioned mental health issues. Do these how do these
drugs effect affect your mental health negatively?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yes, So as we're taking these medications and we're losing weight,
you know what comes with that is you know, body changes,
and so we have to be ready for those changes
in our body and you know, like how we're perceiving
ourselves and how others are perceiving us too, So that's
part of it. The other part is from a physiological standpoint,
(06:13):
as we are, you know, taking these shrugs and the
satiety center, so the center in our brain that has
to do with fullness and everything is actually very close
to the center in our brain that has to do
with reward or the dopamine center. So as we are
impacting the satiety center, how full we're feeling with these drugs,
(06:35):
it also can impact how you know, satisfied or excited
we are about different experiences inclusive of you know, food
or other things. So that really can impact you know,
the way we're viewing things and some mood swings as
well as fatigue.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I'm talking with doctor Swathi Varanasi Diaz. She is a
pharmacist and integrative health expert. Doctor swathie I appreciate your
time today, and I put a link on my blog.
If you want any more formation about what doctor Swathey
was talking about, you can go to the blog and
find it right there. Thank you so much for your
time today.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Yeah, thank you so much for having me all.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Right, thank you. That is doctor Swathey.
I've got a guess that's coming up to talk about
something that we've talked about quite a bit on this show,
and that is weight loss drugs that are becoming more
and more popular. And I said before, I am not
opposed necessarily to any kind of weight loss help. I
want people to live a happy and healthy life, but
I do want people to make an informed decision about
their choices when it comes to their health. So joining
(00:23):
me now, doctor Swathi Veronasi Das. She is a doctor
of pharmacy an integrative health expert. Doctor Swathy, welcome to
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Thank you so much for having me. Well, you know, it.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Seems like GLP one inhibitors are the conversation that everyone's
having right now. And I know multiple people personally that
have really o their lives changed by these drugs. But
there are also a lot of side effects that people
are not talking about. And I wanted to kind of
bring you on because I want, as I said, informed
decision making is what I'm all about here. So, doctor Swathy,
(00:57):
what kind of stuff are you seeing with these ones?
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So I'm seeing GLP ones probably as often as you're
seeing GLP one, So they're everywhere and people are really
thinking like, Okay, this is the perfect fit for everyone,
It's a magic bullet that's going to work immediately, and
that perhaps there are.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
No side effects, and so I'm here to bust those men.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Are what are the big things that people need to
watch out for? What are the side effects that people
should be the most concerned about.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So I would say there are four.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
The first one is the gasperintestinal issues or the stomach issues,
so that's nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and issues with the
stomach not emptying properly, which could lead to long term.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Chronic digestive problems. The second one.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Is, you know, the way it's FDA approved right now,
it's only fd approved for certain patient populations. So if
you have a BMI of over twenty seven plus another
chronic condition, or if you have a BMI of over thirty,
but a lot of people who are taking the medication
actually have a be a mile lower than twenty seven,
and so we actually don't have the research right now
(02:05):
to understand how the drug from an evidence based informed perspective,
how it works.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
For that patient population.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
The third thing is potential mental health side effects. So
this could be you know, with fatigue, mood swings, and
even more. And then the final thing is accelerated muscle loss.
So when patients are taking this medication, you know they're
taking it, they're losing weight, but they're losing a combination
(02:32):
of that and muscle rather than just that.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So I just saw today as well, there was a
story in UH I did not grab it for the blog.
I should have that A lot, like more than fifty
percent of people who stopped taking these drugs actually gained
the weight back. Have you seen that as well?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Yeah, So it's called rebound weight gain, and it's pretty
common with a lot of weight loss medications, inclusive of
the GLP one agnes. So, and that's why the GLP
on amnes we're FDA proof for long term use, because
you know, if you stop taking it, the chance of
gaining the weight back and potentially more is high.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
So what dietary changes can people make to avoid digestive complications?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Yeah, so the first thing I would say is to
eat small, more frequent meals and focus on whole foods.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So this is nutrient dense foods that you.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Know are high protein, high fiber, lots of vegetables. Think
about the perimeter of the grocery store with the produce
section with fruits, vegetables, eating the rainbow, and thinking about
whole grains as well.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Is it easier for people to make healthier choices if
they're not hungry?
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I don't think so. I can't think.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
It actually comes down to what people like to eat,
and so it's part of the lifestyle change when it
comes to weight management or weight loss. Rather than immediately thinking, Okay,
I'm less hunger, I'm going to choose things that are healthier. Right.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Is there anything that you can do to preserve muscle
mass while taking a GLP one inhibitor.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yes, So we just talked a little bit about nutrition.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I also think it's very important to touch on the
importance of movement, so getting active, going for a walk,
taking your dog for the walk, and also incorporating some
resistance training because that really supports muscle health and also
bone health, which leads to longevity.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
So nutrition and movements super important.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
The third thing, because I know we lead such busy lives,
is we want to also think about supplements in a
strategic way.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So I have four supplements that I recommend.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
The first one is Omega three fatty acids, so that
can reduce muscle inflammation and support protein synthesis.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Branch chain amino acids.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Like lucine, which you can get in a lot of
different supplements that can prevent muscle breakdown.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
If you feel like you're not getting.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Enough protein powder, I also recommend a high quality protein
powder that could be way based or plant based, depending
on your dietary preference.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
And then the fourth one is quortotropin.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
So that's a natural compound derived from fertilized raw egg
yuke and in clinical trials it showed that it boosted
muscle protein synthesis up to eighteen percent more in patients
that we're not exercising, and so for those who are
on the go, super busy, fordotropin could be a great
way to, you know, ensure that you're preserving muscle. And
(05:25):
a supplement out there that you can consider is called
myos MD. Myos m D. Currently you can only get
it through your healthcare provider. I'm actually on their medical
advisory board because once I looked at the research, I
was like, Wow, I have to get involved in this
and really help promote that.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
You know, forordotropin can be so beneficial for so many people.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
You mentioned mental health issues. Do these how do these
drugs effect affect your mental health negatively?
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yes, So as we're taking these medications and we're losing weight,
you know what comes with that is you know, body changes,
and so we have to be ready for those changes
in our body and you know, like how we're perceiving
ourselves and how others are perceiving us too, So that's
part of it. The other part is from a physiological standpoint,
(06:13):
as we are, you know, taking these shrugs and the
satiety center, so the center in our brain that has
to do with fullness and everything is actually very close
to the center in our brain that has to do
with reward or the dopamine center. So as we are
impacting the satiety center, how full we're feeling with these drugs,
(06:35):
it also can impact how you know, satisfied or excited
we are about different experiences inclusive of you know, food
or other things. So that really can impact you know,
the way we're viewing things and some mood swings as
well as fatigue.
Speaker 1 (06:50):
I'm talking with doctor Swathi Varanasi Diaz. She is a
pharmacist and integrative health expert. Doctor swathie I appreciate your
time today, and I put a link on my blog.
If you want any more formation about what doctor Swathey
was talking about, you can go to the blog and
find it right there. Thank you so much for your
time today.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
Yeah, thank you so much for having me all.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Right, thank you. That is doctor Swathey.
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