The truth about the 'weight loss' shot

It is common knowledge that maintaining a healthy weight is one of the keys to a long and healthy life. If you are carrying around extra weight, it is likely your doctor has recommended weight loss for this very reason

In addition to diet and exercise for weight loss, “the weight loss shot” or GLP-1 agonists, such as semaglutide, Wegovy, and Ozempic, are now available to help correct imbalanced hormonal signals in the body for fullness and hunger that can help make losing weight easier and faster. Studies have shown a GLP-1 agonist can reduce weight by 15-20% in a little over a year, and that it is relatively safe when appropriately prescribed, making this a very effective weight loss tool.

To maintain this weight loss, one must stay on the injection for life, since coming off the medication would likely cause one to feel less full and hungrier, as they were prior to the injection, leading to weight re-gain. To help prevent this, it is necessary to also modify diet and physical activity habits along with taking the medication with the goal of maintaining, or even building, muscle mass.

Rapid weight loss without the appropriate nutritional intake can lead to muscle loss, which can slow metabolism. A decreased metabolism can lead to weight gain or re-gain. To maintain weight loss, it is necessary to maintain one’s metabolism. The best way to maintain or increase metabolism is to protect the body’s muscles by ensuring adequate protein intake in the daily diet and by consistently

engaging in simple weight-bearing activities that can be done anywhere, such as walking or stair-climbing. Weight maintenance goes beyond just taking medication daily. While weight loss shots (GLP-1 agonists) and other medications are an important tool, they need to be supported by a multi-faceted approach to weight management that includes adequate nutrition and exercise and routine physical and mental healthcare. Structured programs that support and guide healthy lifestyle changes have been found to greatly improve success with weight loss and long-term maintenance. Such programs can be found at Advanced Vital Being Health & Wellness, a comprehensive, medicallysupervised weight management program that offers physical and mental health support throughout the weight loss and maintenance journey. Located here in the South Coast, this program is directed by Doctor of Nursing Practice Rachel Paquette Resendes, who is double Board certified as an adult health and mental health nurse practitioner, practicing since 2011. Some of the features to Advanced Vital Being Health & Wellness’s program are comprehensive physical exams, 3D body composition to monitor muscle mass, lifestyle prescriptions for diet, exercise, and stress management, and medications – including the weight loss shot – if needed. 

Unique to this weight management program is the inclusion of mental healthcare and consideration of its effect on weight management. The practice has developed a 12-Mind-Body Reset program that offers support through goal setting, nurse health coaching, and remote monitoring. Optional motivational incentives in the form of aesthetic services rewards – such as facials and medical aesthetics – enhance the self-care experience. The practice is accepting new patients and accepts most insurances.

For more information, advancedvitalbeing.com

Rachel E. Paquette Resendes is a nurse practitioner who has been practicing preventative primary care since she graduated from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2011. She believes self-care habits can foster motivation to maintain and promote optimal health. She is a member of the Obesity Medicine Association, American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.