The journey to real and lasting weight loss can feel like a long and winding road, with challenges and setbacks at every turn. Maybe you’ve even taken the big step of trying a glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist (GLP-1) like Wegovy or Ozempic, and now wonder whether weekly injections, high drug costs, and adverse side effects will need to be in your life forever just to maintain the results you may have achieved. It’s a valid concern, and certainly a common one too; in the last 5 years alone, 1 in 5 Americans categorized by their doctor as obese have tried a GLP-1 to help them lose weight. After just 2 years, however, research shows that only 15% of them chose to continue the medication.

All of this begs the question: since GLP-1 benefits are dependent upon continued usage to sustain, but the vast majority of people find the drug too problematic to continue after one or two years, can these medications on their own really offer the kind of long-term weight loss solution that combats obesity, and improves overall health?

Clearly, the answer appears to be no, given this evidence - and the good news is there are sustainable, long-term solutions. By offering comprehensive, non-invasive, and nutrition-led programs that improve metabolic health and promote healthy lifestyle changes, L-Nutra Health can be an effective alternative, or safe transition option after GLP-1 therapy, when you want to achieve healthy weight loss that lasts.

Understanding The Truth About GLP-1s

The prevalence of obesity in the United States today is still greater than 40%, and a driving factor for serious metabolic health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, among others. While GLP-1s have been shown to initially reduce body weight and HbA1C (blood sugar) levels, these short-term wins also require consistent use, and often come with long-term consequences. Some of the downsides of GLP-1 usage include: 

• Loss of lean muscle mass. Up to 40% of GLP-1 weight loss can come from muscle, not fat. Since muscle mass is vital for glucose management, this can lead to reduced insulin sensitivity and other metabolic dysfunctions over time.
• Uncomfortable side effects. Nausea, fatigue, hair loss, digestive upset, and nutritional deficiencies are common with GLP-1 use.
• Rising drug costs. Since GLP-1s require a doctor’s prescription and ongoing administration (either by injection or pills), the cost of their continued use can be substantial, even with insurance.
• Weight regained after stopping. GLP-1 treatments do not include any kind of lifestyle modifications, which may contribute to the weight regain many patients experience after stopping medication; within one year of stopping Wegovy, for example, study participants regained two-thirds of the weight they initially lost. As a result, patients are often told they’ll need to be on GLP-1s “for life,” which can feel both discouraging and restrictive.

How L-Nutra Health Addresses Root Causes Over Quick-Fixes

There are many ways in which L-Nutra Health’s approach to weight loss is different from that of a GLP-1. First and foremost, these comprehensive programs focus on the root causes of obesity and metabolic dysfunction, not just the symptom of excess weight. By working to address these root causes, L-Nutra Health offers more sustainable weight loss solutions for long-term health. Since they’re also clinically proven to enhance the way your body’s metabolic processes function, L-Nutra Health’s 6 and 12-month programs can provide other positive side effects like improved insulin sensitivity and energy levels, as well as lower HbA1C levels - without the commonly reported negative side effects of GLP-1s like nausea, digestive upset, and hair loss. 

With personalized dietitian oversight, lab testing, exercise protocols, and nutritional guidance, and multiple cycles of a 5-day low glycemic Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD), here are just a few of the ways L-Nutra Health programs may be a more effective long-term weight loss solution than GLP-1 medications:

• A comprehensive approach. While GLP-1s suppress appetite for short-term weight loss only, L-Nutra Health programs target the root causes of obesity to offer protocols for long-term, sustainable change.
• Targeting visceral fat. A substantial portion of the weight loss from GLP-1s comes from metabolically-vital muscle mass, not fat. Our programs are specifically designed to target dangerous visceral fat which is often stored around organs and the abdominal region and to protect lean muscle mass, which is crucial for maintaining weight loss and can also help improve glucose regulation.
• More cost-effective. GLP-1s can cost upwards of $1000 a month or more in doctor visit fees and the cost of the drugs themselves, in addition to any other medications you may end up needing to alleviate potential side effects. In contrast, L-Nutra Health programs are a fraction of the cost, and may even be covered by Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and/or Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Additionally, unlike GLP-1s, these programs don’t require a lifelong drug dependency either, so the cost commitment becomes even less over time.

Empower Sustainable Weight Loss For A Healthier Future

If you’re already using GLP-1s, L-Nutra Health may be an ideal way to transition away from weekly injections or daily pills, and onto a more sustainable road for your health and weight loss goals. With clinician-led support, individualized pathways, and safe off-ramping guidance, these programs are designed to meet you wherever you’re at along your metabolic health journey - including focusing on the improvement of key metabolic markers - so your weight loss progress can be easier to maintain in the long-term. Scientifically backed by over 40 clinical trials, the FMD, when used in conjunction with a comprehensive program, has decreased BMI and waist circumference, and been shown to promote an average 22 lbs of fat-focused weight loss in those with diabetes, and while preserving lean muscle mass. 

If you’re ready to take back control of your weight loss efforts, you don’t need to choose between better health or your freedom– L-Nutra Health can help you reclaim both, whether you’re looking for an alternative to GLP-1s or looking to get off of them. Reach out to book your complimentary consultation call today.