Since Wegovy was launched in December 2022 in Denmark, 100,000 Danes have used the weight loss medication. According to the latest figures from the Danish Health Data Authority, precisely 100,291 Danes have either used or are still using Wegovy.
The active ingredient in Wegovy, semaglutide, functions as a GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a natural hormone in the body that helps regulate appetite by increasing satiety and reducing hunger and cravings. When semaglutide is introduced into the body, one feels fuller faster. This is due to slower stomach emptying, resulting in reduced calorie intake and weight loss. Semaglutide is often used in medicine for type 2 diabetes, where a "side effect" is reduced appetite.
However, this side effect is not necessarily negative. Considering that weight loss can reduce the risk of many diseases and late complications, semaglutide treatment is also used to aid overweight individuals. To obtain weight loss medication, it is recommended that one's BMI is over 30, or over 27 with a predisposed condition.
It is important to emphasize that semaglutide treatment should be seen as a supplement to diet and lifestyle changes, not a replacement for healthy habits. Combined with a diet like Nupo, which offers a structured calorie deficit, semaglutide can provide effective support in the weight loss process. The Nupo diet consists of carefully balanced meals that ensure essential nutrients while keeping calorie intake low. This combination can optimize weight loss and promote a healthier lifestyle.
A Danish study shows that an 8-week VLCD (Very Low Calorie Diet) produces higher weight loss than weight loss medication.
A Danish study analyzed 109 severely obese individuals with a BMI between 32 and 43. Participants were divided into four groups:
- One group received a placebo,
- Another group received the weight loss medication Saxenda (liraglutide 3 mg),
- A third group solely exercised,
- The fourth group combined exercise with weight loss medication.
At the end of the treatment, there was an average weight gain of 10.5 kg in the group that only received medication, with 70% of the regained weight being fat mass. The group that both exercised and received medication performed best with an average weight gain of 3 kg. All participants followed an 800 calorie VLCD for 8 weeks, averaging a weight loss of 13.1 kg.
The study does not emphasize the economic advantage of an initial approach to weight loss, VLCD can lead to significant results. The combination of a healthy diet, exercise, and maintaining healthy habits is essential for achieving and maintaining weight loss.
As a dietitian, I base my advice on facts and results from such studies.
The combination of weight loss medication and VLCD is effective. Unfortunately, I often encounter clients who have started or completed a weight loss program with medication without changing their lifestyle, which can lead to malnutrition. This is primarily due to:
- Lack of appetite while using semaglutide, resulting in inadequate nutrient intake.
- Continued unhealthy eating habits without lifestyle changes.
- Fear of eating, leading to "starvation diets."
I am neither opposed to nor in favor of weight loss medication, VLCD products, or bariatric surgeries. These methods are individual choices and should be seen as tools for achieving weight loss. A weight loss program is very individual, and what works for one person may not necessarily be right for another. However, I will always prefer VLCD meals over surgeries or medication, as they promote healthy eating habits and can be integrated into a lifestyle change.
Losing weight without a medical prescription
As a clinical dietitian, I advocate VLCD as an effective tool to kickstart, boost, or maintain weight loss. For example, Nupo's VLCD products are evidence-based with over 35 clinical studies demonstrating their effectiveness, ensuring essential nutrients in an 800-calorie diet while achieving weight loss. As I often tell clients, you can follow the Nupo diet without worrying about calorie content, nutrient content, or grocery planning. You can be on the diet and sit on the couch and still lose weight while getting all the necessary nutrients without having to supplement with vitamins. However, a VLCD diet is not for everyone. It requires strong discipline and determination to be on a full VLCD and maintain it for 8 weeks or more.
Project with our own participants on weight loss medication and Nupo diet
Our entire combination course at Nupo began with a series of customer inquiries from individuals who wanted to combine the Nupo diet with their weight loss medication. Many had read about or been recommended this combination by their doctor or dietitian.
This led us at Nupo to launch a project where we interviewed several interested parties to test the combination course. Although there is a lot of research and some knowledge in the field, we wanted to see how it worked in practice. We selected a group of participants who received 8 weeks of Nupo diet products and one-hour dietitian consultations once a week for 9 weeks.
Now, halfway through the course, we have already gathered valuable data and experiences that give us insight into how the combination of weight loss medication and Nupo diet works in a real-life situation. This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination course, and the preliminary results are promising. The combination course is particularly beneficial and healthy because it integrates medical and nutritional approaches to weight loss.
Weight loss medication like semaglutide can help reduce appetite and promote satiety, while the Nupo diet ensures all necessary nutrients within a controlled calorie amount.
This combination can:
- Improve weight loss effectiveness: By using both medication and a structured diet, participants can experience more significant weight loss compared to using just one method.
- Promote healthier eating habits: Nupo diet helps establish healthy dietary habits that can be maintained long-term.
- Reduce the risk of malnutrition: By ensuring a balanced nutrient intake, the risk of nutrient deficiencies is minimized.
- Support lifestyle changes: The combination of medication, diet, and regular consultations with a dietitian creates a holistic approach to weight loss that supports long-term lifestyle changes.
By participating in this course, participants not only gain the tools to lose weight but also the necessary knowledge and support to maintain a healthy lifestyle after the course ends. This project has the potential to create lasting positive changes in participants' health and quality of life.
Source:
Studiet ’Healthy weight loss maintenance with exercise, GLP-1 receptor agonist, or both combined followed by one year without treatment: a post-treatment analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled trial’ er netop publiceret i LANCET eClinical Medicine.
NIH: Addition of very low-calorie diet (VLCD) during initiation of semaglutide in individuals with type 2 diabetes – interim results.
DR News. (2023): 100,291 Danes have used or continue to use the weight loss drug Wegovy, according to figures from the Danish Health Data Authority. Retrieved from dr.dk
