I’m interested in weight loss as much as the next person, but I have always asked myself, at what cost? When I was in my 20s, both my mom, her best friend, and my ex-husband opted for gastric bypass surgery. It was the craze at the time and offered long-term solutions for weight loss and quality of life goals. I was in pharmacy school and focused on nutritional deficiencies caused by gastric bypass surgery. I was so worried about this topic that I made it my doctoral presentation to graduate from pharmacy school. What do you know, 10+ years later, and the very thing I was concerned about came full circle. In the moment, quick scheme methods of losing weight always seem like the best and brightest future for those with excessive weight. I get it, but at what cost?
Over these next few weeks, I just want to talk candidly about, well, the things the weight loss clinics may not be as candid about with the current weight loss craze: GLP-1 Agonist (glucagon-like peptide-1), more commonly known as semaglutide injectables. There is counseling on the fact that ‘the risk for pancreatitis may be elevated for patients using GLP-1 medications; however, there is little conversation about research that has shown significant increased risk of bowel obstruction and/or gastroparesis versus another popular weight loss medication, Contrave (Bupropion/Naltrexone).
What is a bowel obstruction? So glad you asked! A bowel obstruction is a partial or complete blockage of your small intestine or large intestine. Normally, we see bowel obstructions in previous surgical procedures such as gastric bypass patients, but it also includes abdominal, pelvic, and joint surgeries. A bowel obstruction is a medical emergency but can present as though a person has constipation. Seek medical help right away if you have any of these major symptoms of intestinal obstruction: severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and inability to pass stool.
Ok, but what about gastroparesis? Patients with gastroparesis have slowed motility in their stomach. This condition causes symptoms such as abdominal bloating, a feeling of fullness even after just a few bites, acid reflux, and malnutrition. A lot of patients think they are having mild heartburn and will keep taking over-the-counter antacids, when in reality, their body has developed a new condition on top of their obesity.
The most common perspective I find with patients is they don’t believe the truly difficult side effects or “what if” scenarios could happen to them! What I love is research: let the numbers speak for themselves. Below is the research that was done reviewing 16 million patient insurance records for adverse events. You can also find the US News report on what these research investigators reported on with some varying views from providers. At the end of the day, we have to be responsible for the decisions we make on our health, but let’s make those decisions while being fully informed and aware of what ‘could’ happen.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Bowel Obstruction. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from Cleveland Clinic
- Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Gastroparesis: Symptoms and Causes. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from Mayo Clinic
- Sodhi, M., Rezaeianzadeh, R., Kezouh, A., & Etminan, M. (2023). Risk of gastrointestinal adverse events associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss. JAMA. Published online October 5, 2023. JAMA
- US News. (2023, October 5). Study Confirms Risk of Gastro Issues for People Taking Wegovy, Ozempic. Retrieved May 19, 2024, from US News