Food noise is the experience of being preoccupied or constantly thinking about food. Everyone thinks about food to some extent. We plan when to grab lunch or maybe we crave a midnight snack after dinner. However, for some, food noise can be a lot louder and unbelievably persistent. Have you ever heard the phrase, “The food is calling my name”? For some of us, that noise can be very loud and distracting, particularly if one is trying to avoid a specific food or to eat healthier. Now, imagine all of those voices suddenly fall silent. This illustrates the impact some people have noticed when they start weight loss medications.
How do they work?
The injectable Weight loss medications, known as GLP-1 agents, work by improving glucose and fat metabolism and also increasing satiety by making us feel fuller sooner or less hungry throughout the day. Patients using these weight loss medications have seen weight reductions of up to 10 -15%, which are comparable results to those who’ve undergone gastric bypass.
They also provide more benefits than weight loss alone. Studies show that these medications can also decrease cardiovascular events. In fact, cardiologists prescribe these medications for patients without diabetes due to their effectiveness in decreasing heart disease and stroke.
“These medicines are really a game changer,” said Weight Loss Medicine Specialist, Margaret M. Gaglione of TPMG Coastal Internal Medicine and Tidewater Bariatrics.
Administered via weekly injections that patients do by themselves, most patients have no difficulty with injections as the needles are very small and the delivery system is very streamlined.
Why is there so much food noise?
Part of the problem is that our food is engineered to generate more food noise than ever before. Our food industry has manipulated the make-up of the food we consume to make it more addictive and as a result, our brains and bodies crave it.
Most weight management medications, like Ozempic or Wegovy, work by suppressing appetite, thereby decreasing the food noise that can hinder weight loss efforts. Without the distraction of food noise, the task of learning healthy eating habits and weight loss behaviors can be easier to achieve. Weight loss medications essentially provide a quiet room for education and therapy to be undertaken
Are we in uncharted territory?
Despite recent popularity on social media, weight loss medications like Ozempic are nothing new to the field. Many of these medications have been used to treat diabetes and as off-label weight management for nearly 15 years. What is new is the method for delivering the drugs and an expanded range of patients eligible for treatment. Recently, several of these drugs were approved for weight management only.
Who should have weight loss medicine?
The question of who should have access to these drugs is under hot debate across the nation and between health professionals. Some argue that those with other existing conditions in addition to obesity should take precedence, especially in cases where there is not enough supply to meet demand. However, many disregard the fact that obesity is a disease state in and of itself, deserving of life-saving treatment in the same way that diabetics and those with coronary disease deserve treatment.
The primary challenge to getting these medications for individuals who need them is insurance coverage. Many medical insurers will only authorize these treatments for patients who, in addition to having obesity, have additional health conditions such as coronary disease and sleep apnea.
The GLP-1 agents are highly effective, but they aren’t the only pharmaceutically effective medications. If you’re interested in learning more about weight loss medication, contact a qualified TPMG Weight Loss Medicine specialist to schedule a consultation.
About Margaret M. Gaglione, MD, FACP
Margaret M. Gaglione, MD, FACP is an Internal Medicine and Bariatrics Physician at TPMG Coastal Internal Medicine and Tidewater Bariatrics in Chesapeake. She and her staff are committed to helping you achieve your weight loss goals through education, treatment, and maintenance programs such as meal programs, grocery store food programs, and the use of pharmaceutical therapeutics, as appropriate. In 2014, Tidewater Bariatrics turned seven years old, and a total of 55,000 pounds were shed for 2,000 patients, with 496 medications dropped or discontinued.
