Americans have become the unhealthiest people in the world. They are taking more drugs than ever before, more are obese, and lifespans are shortening. In 1900, the average life expectancy for Americans was 47 years, and by 2019 it reached 79 years. But in 2020, U.S. life expectancy dropped to 77 years and in 2021, further dropped to 76.4 years, according to the CDC. (Murphy SL, Kochanek KD, Xu J, Arias E. Mortality in the United States) In fact, life expectancy in countries like Columbia is higher than in the U.S. (Lauren Irwin. US trailed dozens of developed nations for average life expectancy: research. The Hill November 7 2023 https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4298072-us-trails-developed-nations-average-life-expectancy/#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20ranked%20in%20the,around%20the%20world%20fell%20by%20 )
One of the major contributors to this downhill trend is the abandonment of personal responsibility for health, and the search for quick fixes like drugs and supplements and diets that lead to fast weight loss. Here’s what the quick fixes have in common: They don’t work, and they often make things worse. Take GLP-1 inhibitors for weight loss, for example. Wellness Forum Health has advised against these drugs since they were first approved in 2014, stating that they would lead to worsened health and even increased obesity in the long term. They were right. Recent evidence shows that while short-term weight loss is significant, changes in body composition while taking the drugs lowers metabolism and leads to other concerning health issues.
You might have seen Sharon Osborne in the news lately, sharing about her health situation due to taking this drug for weight loss. She knew nothing, nor was informed of, the terrible risks and side effects. Ozempic is a Type 2 diabetes drug, not to be used for weight loss.
According to trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine, about 40% of the weight lost while taking GLP-1 inhibitors is muscle mass. Muscle burns more calories than fat – 14 calories per pound per day vs 3 calories per pound respectively. (Zurlo F, Larson K, Bogardus C, Ravussin E. "Skeletal muscle metabolism is a major determinant of resting energy expenditure." J Clin Invest 1990 Nov;86(5):1423-1427)
Loss of muscle mass can lead to physical instability and weakness, which can lead to disability and an inability to live independently. Frailty is one of the most common reasons for ending up in nursing homes. No one aspires to spend their final years in one of these places, but if you are not physically capable of living on your own, this is where you will end up.
When patients stop taking GLP-1 inhibitors, either due to economic factors, side effects or both – the rebound weight gain is fast and significant, and the person is even worse off than before taking the drug.
Maintaining a lean body is advantageous for health for several reasons, including:
People who have muscular bodies have a higher basal metabolic rate, which results in higher calorie burn, as mentioned before.
Muscles use glucose for energy, which helps with glucose control, which is particularly important since most obese people are diabetic or on their way to becoming diabetic.
Skeletal muscle serves as an endocrine organ, regulating hormones including those that enhance energy expenditure.
When patients stop taking GLP-1 inhibitors, either due to economic factors, side effects or both – the rebound weight gain is fast and significant, and the person is even worse off than before taking the drug.
Maintaining a lean body is advantageous for health for several reasons, including:
People who have muscular bodies have a higher basal metabolic rate, which results in higher calorie burn, as mentioned before.
Muscles use glucose for energy, which helps with glucose control, which is particularly important since most obese people are diabetic or on their way to becoming diabetic.
Skeletal muscle serves as an endocrine organ, regulating hormones including those that enhance energy expenditure.
The bottom line is that we can expect that the new weight loss drugs are going to create to a bigger problem than the mess created by opiates. Millions of people are taking them, and their weight loss is temporary at best. At some point, both the cost and the side effects will result in discontinuation for many, if not most. Companies with self-funded health plans are already starting to exclude coverage for them due to the expense. And multiple lawsuits have already been filed for injuries and deaths related to the drugs. In the future, doctors and medical centers may refuse to prescribe them due to liability concerns. What will happen to people who opted for this quick fix? They won’t just be back to where they started from, but worse off – because it will be even harder for them to lose the excess weight they’ve carried for a very long time.
The quick fix is never a real fix. It just postpones doing the things that have been proven to improve health – changing thinking patterns, adopting new diet and lifestyle habits, and taking responsibility for self. (Pam Popper, Wellness Forum Health)
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