An obesity expert reveals the best way to decide if GLP-1 is right for you
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Some experts believe that anyone could benefit from GLP-1 medications, as popular medications have become more widespread and accessible.
Others, however, caution that the decision to take diabetes and weight-loss medications should be based on health history and potential risks. So how do you know if you’re a good candidate?
In an interview with News Digital, Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, MD, obesity medicine specialist and author of the new book “Weightless,” shared that the best way to determine the suitability of a GLP-1 is through body composition testing.
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Most people associate success with the number on the scale, but this won’t tell you what’s going on with your health, according to the New York City-based expert.
“Maybe you were losing muscle, maybe you lost water, maybe you lost a little fat,” he said. “Losing weight on the scale doesn’t translate into being healthy. It’s more about body composition.”
The number on the scale cannot reveal the composition of the body’s muscles and fat, one expert said. (iStock)
Body composition machines are often found in doctors’ offices and even some gyms. The technology scans the body to measure the following three health markers.
- Skeletal muscle mass
- Body fat percentage
- visceral fat
These measurements can identify what is in your body that could make you sick or keep you healthy, according to Salas-Whalen.
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“I perform a body composition on everyone who walks through the door,” he said. “I want to see your visceral fat, which is the fat that surrounds your internal organs. It’s pro-inflammatory fat, which increases insulin resistance. [and] “hyperinsulinemia (a condition in which there is too much insulin in the blood relative to what the body needs).”
Body composition tests look for three markers of health: skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat. (iStock)
“And then I also want to see your body fat percentage, meaning what percentage of your weight is fat.”
This percentage should be around 28% or less for women and 20% or less for men, according to Salas-Whalen.
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Skeletal muscle mass is another important marker for health, and encompasses muscle that is developed through diet and exercise.
“The muscle is an anti-inflammatory organ,” said the expert. “It also decreases insulin resistance… [and] consumes 80% of your glucose.”
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The goal of weight loss is not just to lose weight, Salas-Whalen said, but to achieve body recomposition. This is why GLP-1s should not be given to just anyone and especially should not be purchased online without the direction of a medical professional, he warned.
Skeletal muscle mass is an important marker for health and encompasses muscle that is developed through diet and exercise. (iStock)
“If you have good body composition, rest assured that you will get all the benefits that someone taking GLP-1 would get,” he said. “It is not safe to use a medication that is not needed.”
Salas-Whalen said it’s important to “know your numbers” after being tested for body composition, as the results can be surprising.
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“Every patient’s journey will be different,” he said. “But I can tell you that most people need it rather than not… a lot of people will really benefit from a GLP-1 or not.”
The World Health Organization conditionally recommends the long-term use of GLP-1 and related therapies (liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide, etc.) for the treatment of adults living with obesity (BMI of 30 or higher) as part of obesity care. It does not endorse them as general-use medications for everyone, regardless of health status.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for News Digital.