Weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Saxenda are flying off pharmacy shelves, given their ability to shave nearly 20% off ones body weight with a single weekly jab.
As the miracle drugs make headlines, the topic of obesity is again at the forefront of the social consciousnessand the debate that accompanies it. Is obesity hereditary? A choice? Influenced by other factors like poverty and mental illness?
And does it even matter?
Its my personal belief that even if someone chose a particular pathand I dont think thats the case hereonce someone is suffering and sick, I think we, as a society, should treat them, Zach Reitano says. Hes the co-founder and CEO of Ro, a healthcare company that treats conditions like obesity, hair loss, and erectile dysfunction via telehealth without requiring insurance. (Reitano will be speaking on the topic of overcoming obesity at Fortune Brainstorm Health conference later this month. To learn more about the conference, click here.)
The stunning success of Wegovy and similar drugs have created the opportunity for conversation about obesity and the factors behind itand the list doesnt include character flaws and moral failures, he says.
Having obesity has often been thought of as a flaw of self-discipline or willpower, Reitano says. There are very few health care conditions where people know you have them from an initial interaction andmake a snap-shot judgment as a result.
Evidence is mounting that obesity is moreso a neurohormonal disease than a consequence of lifestyle choicesa medical condition similar to other chronic diseases were more familiar with, like diabetes and hypertension, he says.
While genetic, environmental, and behavioral components all play into the development of obesity, behavior plays far less of a role than one might think, he contends.
The fact that the vast majority of those who go off Wegovy or similar drugs will regain the weight they lost demonstrates that obesity is, indeed, a chronic disease, he maintainsand we should think before judging someone experiencing rebound weight gain.
If this were diabetes or hypertension or high cholesterol, when you go off a statin or blood pressure medication or stop taking insulin, youd expect a negative result, he says, adding that theres no reason why we shouldnt expect the same result in those who stop using the weight loss injectable.
Medications like Wegovy allow the body to defend a set point, an ideal weight and level of body fat their body wants them to have. Normally, when someone attempts to lose weight, their body transitions to a starvation response, which increases their appetite and sometimes even slows their metabolic rateturning weight loss into a battle, Reitano says.
Their body is constantly fighting them, mimicking the starvation response, he adds. To expect an individual to fight a starvation response for 80 years is extremely unreasonable.
Drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic mimic a hormone produced in the intestines after meals, called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). It helps regulate appetite and food intake, sending a signal to the brain that prevents your body from initiating that starvation response, and allowing one to be more satisfied with fewer calories. While Wegovy is approved for the treatment of obesity in those who have weight-related health conditions like high blood pressure or cholesterol, Ozempic is only approved for those with type 2 diabetes.
Because obesity is a chronic neurohormonal disease, patients with it need ongoing care, Reitano saysand that may entail long-term use of medications like Wegovy.
Theyre not for everyone, but they can be a godsend, a game-changer for those for whom theyre clinically appropriate, he says. They arent replacements for other healthy activities, or for diet and exercise. But in many ways, they will actually assist like a jet pack, in terms of helping someone improve their behavior.
Its much easier to adhere to a diet if your body isnt telling you youre starving.
Each year, Fortune Brainstorm Health assembles some of the best minds in healthcare to discuss the most pertinent topics in the industry. This years event, which takes place April 25-26 in Los Angeles, will feature conversations at the crossroads of healthcare, business, technology, and investing.
One of our main stage sessions at the upcoming event will focus on innovations in the field of obesity and will include Reitano. Interested in applying to register for Brainstorm Health? Please click here for more information.
