Locations:
SearchAs weight loss drugs continue to grow in popularity, so do some of the myths surrounding them. An endocrinologist highlights three of the most common misconceptions.
Cleveland Clinic News Service | 216.444.0141
We’re available to shoot custom interviews & b-roll for media outlets upon request.
CCNS health and medical content is consumer-friendly, professional broadcast quality (available in HD), and available to media outlets each day.
images: 0
video: 0
audio: 0
text: 0
CLICK HERE to download soundbites, b-roll, script and web article.
For download password, contact ccnewsservice@ccf.org.
CLEVELAND - As weight loss medications continue to grow in popularity, so do some of the myths surrounding them.
For example, there’s the false belief that people will see instant results.
“The medication itself doesn't just work like magic to help you lose a bunch of weight. We still have the bedrock of diet and exercise that we put in place with the tools that we have like medications and devices and surgeries,” explained Peminda Cabandugama, MD, who specializes in obesity medicine at Cleveland Clinic. “So, it's very important to know that we don't just look at one modality for everyone. It's also important to know that we don't really try to lose weight too fast. The current guidelines recommend trying to lose the max of one to two pounds per week.”
Dr. Cabandugama said when a person loses weight too quickly, they risk losing muscle too, which can impact their quality of life.
Another myth is that you don’t need to diet and exercise while taking these medications, which is not true.
Diet and exercise are both crucial.
Dr. Cabandugama points to a study that shows around the two-year mark, even with weight loss surgery, many people tend to gain weight back if they are not dieting and exercising.
Finally, there is a misconception that weight loss medications are ‘the easy way out.’
“The first thing I would probably say when somebody says they're taking the easy way out, is speak to that person and see what the cause of the weight gain was, and you might be surprised with what you hear,” he said. “The second thing is there is no easy way out. If there was an easy way out, we wouldn't be having this conversation about weight because nobody would be gaining weight. So, the important thing is to know that there are different causes and that means there are different modalities to treat it.”
If you are considering weight loss medication, it's best to consult with a specialist.
They can help create a comprehensive plan that's just right for you.
