The rough and tough exercising schedules may have drowned us into thinking of a shorter way of losing the extra calories. These trendy social media posts about “weight loss drugs” may have got us to wonder about ‘Are they actually drugs?’ or ‘How do they work to completely fall off the fat’. Well, we have got you covered with everything you need to know about effective weight loss injections.
From the potential benefits of these injections in achieving weight loss goals to the associated risks and considerations to keep in mind before opting for this treatment. A balanced discussion on the pros and cons of effective weight loss injections in this insightful blog post.
Types of Weight Loss Injections
There is a variety of weight loss injections you can get prescribed by your doctor.
The diversity in these injected drugs aka medicines depends upon the needs of every human’s physiological, lifestyle factors, and what your intake is. These medications target various body aspects like metabolism, appetite control, and blood sugar levels.
Here are the three general categories of injections:
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Appetite-Suppressant Injections
The first category of GLP-1 receptor agonists is further specified into
- Liraglutide (Saxenda or Victoza)
- Semaglutide (Ozempic and Wegovy)
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro).
These medications primarily work by reducing hunger and increasing feelings of fullness, leading to reduced food intake. They function similarly to GLP-1, a hormone that decreases hunger, delays stomach emptying, and promotes fullness. After eating, GLP-1 is normally released to tell the brain when it is full. These injections are usually taken once weekly or daily and are effective for long-term weight management, especially in individuals with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
These are FDA-approved for the management of type 2 diabetes in people who are ten years and older and can be used to help obese and overweight adults with weight-related conditions.
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Fat Burning Injections
These lipotropic injections include the example of
- MIC Injections (Methionine, Inositol, Choline)
- B12 Injections
The mechanism of Methionine is it helps break down fat molecules, Inositol aids in fat metabolism, Choline supports liver function and fat emulsification, and Vitamin B12 boosts energy levels and supports metabolic processes.
These injections work to increase the body’s fat-burning capacity, usually by speeding up the breakdown of stored fat or raising the metabolic rate. They are typically used as an adjunct to exercise programs for enhanced fat-burning and energy production.
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Metabolism-Boosting Injections
These injections aim to increase the body’s metabolic rate, helping to burn more calories even at rest.
- Thyroid hormone injections, Levothyroxine
Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of thyroxine (T4), a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism. It’s primarily used to treat hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, leading to a slowed metabolism.
Administered daily, typically for individuals with diagnosed hypothyroidism to normalize metabolism. Not used for weight loss in individuals with normal thyroid function
- Growth Hormone (GH) Injections, Somatropin
Growth hormone stimulates cell growth and regeneration. It increases muscle mass, reduces fat stores, and boosts metabolism, although its use for weight loss is typically restricted to growth hormone deficiencies.
Administered under strict medical supervision, as improper use can lead to serious side effects.
How do These Drugs help?
Let’s start with the positives: drugs are generally helpful, considerably more so than previous obesity drugs, and far superior to the antiquated and ineffective remedies.
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Effectiveness
The medications slow down digestion and prolong feelings of fullness by working on various bodily regions, including the stomach and the brain, like that of the GLP-1 hormone. In the end, this causes a decrease in appetite, a gradual decrease in food intake, and an energy deficit, which forces the body to burn fat reserves for energy.
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Non-surgical
Another benefit is that those who are classified as seriously obese or have a BMI of 35.0 or higher, and who have been thinking about bariatric surgical options for their obesity, such as gastric bands or bypasses, may be able to avoid intrusive surgery, which is always dangerous. Even though there is now less risk associated with surgery, invasive procedures are still best avoided.
Conclusion
Lastly, A variety of weight loss injections exists to cater to the diverse needs of individuals seeking to lose weight, manage obesity, or control related conditions like type 2 diabetes. This variety allows healthcare providers to tailor treatment plans to the specific needs, preferences, and health profiles of their patients, optimizing outcomes and improving adherence to therapy.
They were reported as generally safe and disproved previous concerns about an increased risk of pancreatitis.