When New Medicines Work, When People Have to Stop They Loss: A Maryland man in search of Zepbound faces a dilemma when people have to stop taking them
Dr. Natalie Muth, the spokeswoman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said there are a lot of changes to prepare for.
A person’s response to being on the drug — or to halting it — will depend on the particulars of their biology, genetics, or hormonal makeup. But for the vast majority of people, she says, biology favors regain. We as humans want to keep our fat and keep our appetites up.
The Maryland man searching for Zepbound is familiar with drastic lifestyle changes to lose weight without the use of medication. It requires diligently tracking every bite, by scanning everything he eats into a mobile app, and limiting himself to about 1,000 calories a day, just enough to leave him ”just absolutely starving all the time.”
Last month, he bought the same drugs from the compound pharmacy in Florida. He did it despite some unknowns, because of the cautious approval of his doctor.
Source: The new obesity drugs work, but it’s a dilemma when people have to stop taking them
When doctors tell us to stop using the substitute, or what they tell us about diets, and how to make sure they are taking the right medicines: A case study of Jeffreys Meyers
After two weeks on the substitute, it’s a mixed bag, he says. He feels dyspeptic on it, but also hungrier. “It’s kind of like, ‘Oh, I want a little bit more,’ and it’s a little hard to push the plate aside.”
There are many uncertainties, but he says they are worth it. “To me, if I have GI problems for the rest of my life, but I don’t have a heart attack or don’t have all the other things associated with obesity, it’s fine.”
Kumar says that there will be scenarios in which young people will have to take off their medicine even if they do not like it.
In the meantime, Kumar says for those on them long term, transitioning on and off the drugs will be a reality many patients will face, if nothing else, because of other medical situations they may run into, such as a surgery or pregnancy. (To date, research on pregnant women and GLP1 medications suggest it is not linked to more birth defects than insulin, but the full impact of fetal exposure is not yet known. Women who have struggled with infertility are reporting surprise pregnancies after taking GLP1 medicines, and the drug companies warn that they may make birth control pills less effective.
But Kumar says these drugs were intended for medical use to treat the disease of obesity, not used to aid in cosmetic weight-loss. Many of the people that we’re hearing about don’t meet the strict criteria of the medicine.
These are more than just medicines – they have become a societal phenomenon. Dr. Rekha Kumar, an ex medical director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, says that all the chatter about the use of them on social media and popular culture can confuse patients. She says social media is full of posts by people claiming to use obesity meds short term, as a kickstart to a diet saying, “‘Oh, I’m just going to take these for a short time and then stop.’”
In other words: Chronic disease requires chronic treatment, no different than kidney disease, or high cholesterol. The new obesity treatments act on the various hormonal and metabolic drivers of obesity.
Meyers says before going on the injections, he felt his hungry impulses always won out in the end. “That’s the biggest component of this whole thing,” he says. On the drug, he says he’s no longer preoccupied by food, and can walk past candy bars in the grocery store without grabbing one.
More and more people who started taking the new GLP-1 agonist drugs are now confronting the realities of their limitations; medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro tend to help with sustained weight loss only while people are on them. But because of cost, for example, negative side effects, or supply shortages, many people are having to transition off of them — while trying not to regain the weight.
Jon Meyers on the Ups and Downs of Zephedrin: A Case Study in Obesity-Preserving Diseases
But the drug’s been in short supply and very hard to find. There were cold containers in which medicine could be shipped to him in Maryland. He can’t find Zepbound anymore and says friends, family and people he follows on social media are all in the same boat. Some, he says, have turned to compound pharmacies selling approximations of the drug online; others tapered their doses, stretching them out.
Jonathan Meyers has gained and lost weight several times over the past few decades, and then regained his weight after attempting a diet that restricted calories, sugar, and fat. “I’ve had success, up and down, but I always regain the weight,” says Meyers, a digital strategist at an environmental nonprofit.
Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
U.S. Firefighter Shortage in Forests: After the Rafah Airstrike, Defense Forces are Worsening
Israel is facing international criticism for its airstrike on Rafah on Sunday, which caused a fire in a tented area for displaced people. Health officials say that the attack killed at least 45 Palestinians and injured many more. Israel’s military said it wasn’t expecting to hurt civilians in its attack on a Hamas installation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “tragic mistake.” Martin the UN relief chief said that the message of calling it a mistake was meaningless for those killed, grieving and trying to save lives.
As wildfires burn in Canada and Mexico, U.S. fire officials are concerned about the upcoming wildfire season. Roughly 25% of government’s wildland firefighting jobs are vacant. The pay is low and the risks are high for rookies. Forests are overgrown, and rising heat and drought add to the dangers. Many who take the firefighting jobs can’t afford to live in the places they’re working. 🎧 Kirk says that the labor shortage is not new, especially since the Pandemic. Private contractors or crews from Mexico and Canada will likely continue to be used by the federal government.
Source: U.S. faces firefighter shortage; global condemnation toward Israel mounts
The Arthur Grand Technologies Employee’s Job Post with Race and Citizenship Requirements is NOT RELATIV. A lawsuit filed by the DOJ and DOL
A job posting that included race and citizenship requirements caused a lot of uproar and a Virginia-based IT staffing firm has settled with the DOJ and DOL. The listing from Arthur Grand Technologies sought candidates “Only Born US Citizens [White] who are local within 60 miles from Dallas, TX It is recommended to not share with candidates. Thirty one people will be paid a civil penalty along with a total of $31,000 for complaining about Arthur Grand’s posting. In a statement to NPR, Arthur Grand’s CEO said his company “vehemently denies any guilt or wrongdoing” and said a rogue employee made the job posting.
On New Year’s Eve, there are many visitors to the islands in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. The young men don masks and costumes to wreak havoc on their town for a tradition known as Old Year’s Night. The identity of the Okalolies and where they will wear their clothing are kept under wraps. After the chaos, residents of the island ring in the new year with dancing and barbecues known as braais.
