Is Overall Health at Risk?

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The Best of Both Worlds: A New Era in Diabetes and Obesity Treatment

GLP-1/GIP analogues are a welcome therapeutic breakthrough at a time when the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and obesity is exploding and affecting people younger and younger. These diseases particularly affect women, members of racialized groups, and socio-economically disadvantaged populations. The physical and mental suffering they cause and the costs associated with treating them are both considerable.

Support services do exist, but only in large university hospital centres to which many people do not have access. Nor do many people have easy access to healthy and varied food options, sports facilities, or social and psychological support.

To be effective over the long term, GLP-1/GIP analogues must be taken continuously: without drastic lifestyle changes, the weight that was lost is regained within a year of stopping, and glycemic control is compromised once again.

Pharmacological treatment, even if it allows an individual to eat less, does not necessarily mean that person will eat better. Similarly, losing weight does not mean one will become more active or healthier. So these new drugs do not cure Type 2 diabetes or obesity. Nor do they prevent these diseases from developing, although they do help to limit the many complications to which they give rise.

Prescribe and Treat

A drug such as Mounjaro is as effective at weight loss as bariatric surgery. Much easier to administer and much less risky, it could be a real game changer in the treatment of obesity. Prescribed directly by family doctors and dispensed in pharmacies, it would also be much more accessible and easier to administer for those who need it.

This raises the question of costs and reimbursement, but not only that: prescribing is not the same as treating. Here, the manufacturers are following the recommendations of the health authorities: this treatment must be preceded by a careful assessment, then management, and above all a close and regular monitoring of diet, physical activity, mental health, and if necessary, socio-economic assistance.

This requires not only time that GPs do not have, but also co-ordination with other players in the health-care network. The problem is not whether the treatment will be effective, but what can happen if it is. Losing 25 per cent of your body weight in just a few months has serious consequences, which are not always beneficial: it involves a loss of body fat, but also of muscle mass, which is associated with intense fatigue. Nor should we underestimate the challenge of adapting physically and psychologically to a body transformation of this scale. Losing weight doesn’t solve everything, and expectations must remain realistic.

What Lessons Can We Learn?

The clinical effectiveness of GLP-1/GIP analogues in reducing the complications associated with Type 2 diabetes and obesity is indisputable. However, these drugs are not suitable for everyone, and they are certainly not miracle cures that will make it possible for one to regain health without making any changes to lifestyle or environment.

We must bear in mind that their success, both commercial and medical, is also the result of a failure: that of our societies to prevent these diseases, to promote healthy lifestyles, and to develop environments conducive to the health of all.

Conclusion

GLP-1/GIP analogues are a welcome therapeutic breakthrough in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, they are not miracle cures that will make it possible for one to regain health without making any changes to lifestyle or environment. They are a tool that can be used to help individuals manage their health, but they are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle and a supportive environment.

FAQs

Q: What are GLP-1/GIP analogues?
A: GLP-1/GIP analogues are a type of medication that is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Q: How do GLP-1/GIP analogues work?
A: GLP-1/GIP analogues work by mimicking the action of natural hormones in the body that help to regulate blood sugar levels and appetite.

Q: Are GLP-1/GIP analogues safe?
A: GLP-1/GIP analogues are generally considered to be safe, but as with any medication, they can cause side effects.

Q: Are GLP-1/GIP analogues effective?
A: GLP-1/GIP analogues have been shown to be effective in reducing the complications associated with Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Q: Are GLP-1/GIP analogues suitable for everyone?
A: GLP-1/GIP analogues are not suitable for everyone, and individuals should consult with their doctor to determine if they are a good candidate for this type of treatment.