Physicians writing on KevinMD about obesity: whether it is a disease, what the GLP-1 drugs from Ozempic to oral Wegovy have changed, what happens when patients stop them, who should take them and who pays, teenagers, compounded versions, bariatric surgery, and the stigma patients describe in the exam room. One maintained record draws on this archive: GLP-1 drugs: what physicians say about Ozempic and its successors, in their own words.

Many kids benefit from GLP-1s. What happens when they have to stop taking them?

Conditions and Diseases
August 24, 2024

At the November 2022 Obesity Week in San Diego, it was clear something big was happening. A late-breaking session released results of the STEP TEENS phase IIIa trial, showing 16 percent weight loss in adolescents with obesity treated with once-weekly semaglutide (Wegovy) for 68 weeks. The side effects were manageable and similar to those experienced in adults: nausea, vomiting, and constipation.

A month later, semaglutide received FDA approval for weight management …

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Many kids benefit from GLP-1s. What happens when they have to stop taking them?

Are rapid weight loss drugs hiding the real obesity problem?

Medications
August 10, 2024

According to some academics, in 2019, a ban on junk food advertising across London’s entire public transport network—foods and drinks high in fat and salt and ads for foods–resulted in the prevention of 100,000 obesity cases. Yet the U.S. love affair with the new semaglutide-based weight loss drugs like Ozempic gives junk food advertising and availability a huge pass.

Drug makers and Wall Street are pleased that instead of changing …

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Are rapid weight loss drugs hiding the real obesity problem?

How quality sleep can boost your weight loss journey [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 5, 2024
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Join Nisha Kuruvadi, an internal medicine physician, as we explore the intriguing connection between sleep and weight loss. Did you know those precious hours of sleep could be more than just rest? Sleep …

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How quality sleep can boost your weight loss journey [PODCAST]

Obesity management in rheumatology [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 3, 2024
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Join us for a conversation with Zachary Fellows, a rheumatologist who spent nearly four years in private practice navigating the complex intersection of obesity and rheumatic diseases. Zachary shares his journey from giving …

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Obesity management in rheumatology [PODCAST]

Are Ozempic patients on a slow-moving runaway train?

Medications
July 30, 2024

Have you ever heard of a drug called Ozempic? Just kidding. As we all know, this medicine and numerous related drugs are the rage. It is classified as a GLP-1 drug. The percentage of my patients who are taking these drugs is steadily rising. Of course, initially, Ozempic’s purpose was in diabetic management. Once it was discovered that weight loss was a “side-effect,” a new therapeutic mission was discovered. Indeed, …

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Are Ozempic patients on a slow-moving runaway train?

How weight loss drugs are creating a medical dilemma

Medications
July 22, 2024

On my outpatient clinical rotations last year, I saw ample management of heart disease and smoking cessation counseling. I also saw the annual physicals and checkups. But what surprised me was how many patients were on medications that were just now becoming more mainstream. I’m sure you’ve heard of one in particular—Ozempic. But it wasn’t just Ozempic. There was also Wegovy and Mounjaro. These medications, in the family of semaglutides, …

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How weight loss drugs are creating a medical dilemma

Breaking the stigma: obesity and perimenopause [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 20, 2024
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In this episode, we sit down with Caissa Troutman, an obesity medicine and family physician, to delve into the pervasive stigma and shame associated with obesity and perimenopause. Caissa shares her personal experiences …

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Breaking the stigma: obesity and perimenopause [PODCAST]

How quality sleep can be your secret weapon for effective weight loss

Conditions and Diseases
June 24, 2024

Imagine snuggling up in bed and drifting off into dreamland after a long day. Did you know that those precious hours of sleep could be more than just time for rest? Let’s explore the interesting connection between sleep and weight loss and why getting quality sleep might just be the added push you need to shed that extra weight.

Sleep is not just about closing your eyes and calling it a …

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How quality sleep can be your secret weapon for effective weight loss

Understanding obesity beyond lifestyle choices

Conditions and Diseases
June 17, 2024

Recently, media outlets and social media influencers have been on fire with stories about new “miracle” obesity drugs that promise a quick fix for people wanting to lose weight. Lost in this chatter are the life stories of millions of Americans struggling with obesity and its physical and emotional effects. A vital question is being ignored: how can we continue to allow money to determine access to treatment when many …

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Understanding obesity beyond lifestyle choices

Addressing obesity: Is there a role for us as specialists?

Conditions and Diseases
June 15, 2024

I was in rheumatology private practice for just under four years as my first few years out of fellowship. During that time, too many of my patients were coming with obesity complicating a facet of their rheumatic disease. The most common example might be osteoarthritis, where excess weight directly applies force to joints like the lower back, hips, and knees, accelerating the disease and worsening outcomes. A less obvious example …

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Addressing obesity: Is there a role for us as specialists?

GLP-1 medications like Wegovy are effective metabolic health tools for teens with insulin resistance

Medications
April 17, 2024

Lizzie is a 13-year-old with a great sense of humor.

She tells it like it is, especially to her Mom, Jackie, who admits to being a bit of an Almond Mom (the parent who is stuck in a weight-focused diet culture). Jackie leads a very healthy lifestyle and has never had to deal with being overweight. Jackie is different from other Moms I work with because she isn’t telling me that …

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GLP-1 medications like Wegovy are effective metabolic health tools for teens with insulin resistance

The battle of the bulge: The struggle is real

Conditions and Diseases
March 30, 2024

The economic impact of obesity looms large, casting a shadow over both individual well-being and national prosperity. Beyond the personal struggles and societal pressures surrounding weight management, the financial ramifications of obesity ripple through health care systems, labor markets, and various sectors of the economy. In the United States alone, the annual health care costs attributed to obesity-related conditions soar into the hundreds of billions of dollars, placing a significant …

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The battle of the bulge: The struggle is real

Shedding some weight on the health care crisis

Conditions and Diseases
March 21, 2024

In today’s world, the term “obesity” is more than just a medical diagnosis—it’s a complex issue intertwined with personal experiences, societal norms, and systemic challenges. As a seasoned family doctor, I’ve witnessed firsthand the multifaceted nature of obesity and its profound impact on individuals’ lives. But beyond the clinical observations, I carry a personal history marked by struggles with weight and body image.

I’m a family doctor, and I have been …

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Shedding some weight on the health care crisis

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Going beyond the usual advice for eating healthy [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 24, 2024
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Join Francisco M. Torres, an interventional physiatrist. As the author of Dr. T’s Drop the Fat Diet: 12 Steps to Leaner You Forever, Dr. Torres shares invaluable findings from recent clinical studies, revealing …

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Going beyond the usual advice for eating healthy [PODCAST]

Beyond Ozempic: Why one size doesn’t fit all in weight loss

Conditions and Diseases
February 19, 2024

I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, which is generally associated with a diet of all fried food. Prior to medical school, I thought many adults around me would eventually succumb to a diagnosis of hypertension and diabetes since they didn’t appear to think either was a big deal. However, my medical education quickly revealed that these co-morbidities were not merely inconveniences but were linked to some of the leading causes …

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Beyond Ozempic: Why one size doesn’t fit all in weight loss

Hope, healing, and challenges in eating disorder recovery [PODCAST]

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February 5, 2024
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Join Jillian Rigert, an oral medicine specialist and radiation oncology research fellow. In this episode, we delve into the world of eating disorders, drawing from Jillian’s unique perspective as both a patient and a health care professional. …

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Hope, healing, and challenges in eating disorder recovery [PODCAST]

The body positivity movement: Has it become toxic?

Conditions and Diseases
January 15, 2024

Delving into the topic of the body positivity movement requires the unpacking of many other issues facing society today. This topic cannot be looked at in a vacuum.

We live in an era where diversity and inclusion have become core values in many aspects of American life, and body positivity is a subset of that. The body positivity movement actually started in the late 1960s when women were rebelling against other …

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The body positivity movement: Has it become toxic?

The “Ozempic body” phenomenon

Conditions and Diseases
January 15, 2024

In a serendipitous encounter, I crossed paths with an old schoolmate of mine whimsically dubbed Fluffy Carol during our shared medical residency. Famous for her arresting charm and infectious smile, she was, in many ways, the life of the party if we ever had one.

Despite her endearing qualities, one mischievous fellow in our group had bestowed upon her a less-than-ideal nickname that stuck, though it was seldom uttered in her …

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The “Ozempic body” phenomenon

Breaking down weight management: insights from a bariatric expert [PODCAST]

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December 22, 2023
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Join Maria Iliakova, a bariatric and general surgeon. In this episode, we’ll explore essential topics in weight management and bariatric surgery. Discover effective ways to start conversations about weight with patients, learn when to refer to a …

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Breaking down weight management: insights from a bariatric expert [PODCAST]

Ozempic: miracle drug or a band-aid for obesity?

Medications
December 16, 2023

An excerpt from Dr. T’s Drop the Fat Diet: 12 Steps to Leaner You Forever.

Semaglutide, a medication often marketed as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus, has gained immense popularity in recent years. This is especially true in an age where diabetes and obesity are on the rise. The medication is being seen as a panacea for effortless weight loss. Some doctors and activists have hailed it as a miracle drug …

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Ozempic: miracle drug or a band-aid for obesity?

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