Beyond Weight Loss – Other Benefits of GLP-1 Medications

Social Media Famous

Being social media famous is all the rage. Whether it’s a Facebook challenge, a blog hop, or a viral TikTok trend, social media creates overwhelming demand for a specific experience or product. Summer of 2023 found weight loss medications at the center of that buzz. GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic, and Wegovy were all mainstream news, especially because of the weight loss they spurred.

How GLP-1 Medications Work

Originally GLP-1 medications were approved to help manage Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss wasn’t the original intention of that class of medication, but that benefit became apparent fairly quickly and they were prescribed off label as a weight loss medication. In the last two years, several GLP-1 agonists have been approved for obesity management and, just a few days ago, Zepbound, a brand name of the medication tirzepatide was added to that list.

GLP-1 agonists work to:

  • Control blood sugar
  • Curb hunger
  • Diminish cravings
  • Minimize internal food chatter
  • Increase feelings of satiety

making them very effective for management of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, but GLP-1 agonists have other positive effects on health, too.

Additional Health Impacts

GLP-1 medications are relatively new so the understanding of what they can do and the areas in which they’re effective continue to evolve. Most recently, they’ve been found to:

  • Have cardiovascular benefits
  • Lessen systemic inflammation
  • Offer some help in managing blood pressure
  • Help modulate the immune system

Management of chronic pain and positive impact on mental health are two additional areas currently being researched.

GLP-1 Medications and Cardiovascular Health

Semaglutide, available as pills and injections, was the subject of a series of clinical studies called the PIONEER and SUSTAIN studies. Both showed that semaglutide has positive effects on:

  • Plaque build-up in the arteries
  • Blood pressure (by lessening arterial inflammation)
  • Kidney function
  • Blood sugar control

All of these impact heart health. Semaglutide was also shown in these studies to lessen the risk of death from a stroke or heart attack.

GLP-1 Medications and Inflammation

GLP-1 medications have been shown to lessen inflammation in the body. Inflammation causes an inordinate amount of disease in the body, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Liver and kidney disease
  • Respiratory diseases including COPD
  • Autoimmune diseases including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis

GLP-1 medications help manage this inflammation in a couple of different ways. First, they cause weight loss. Along with many other complications of obesity, it creates a low level of chronic inflammation in the body. Weight loss can lower that.

They can also help control immune response. When one sustains an injury or is ill, the immune system is activated to facilitate healing. However, sometimes the immune system goes into overdrive, causing the body to attack healthy cells and create additional disease. GLP-1 medications have been found effective in managing that response.

The Online NP Can Help

Family Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Kowatch of The Online NP helps patients achieve weight loss and good health through a variety of health and wellness options. She provides telemedicine services and is licensed in over forty states. Contact her to reap the benefits of a GLP-1 medication or for any other health concern you have.

Disclaimer: The information contained here was not written by a medical doctor and is intended for informational purposes only. This is not a substitute for medical advice.

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