Usage of weight loss injections has skyrocketed in recent months, with the latest stats indicating that as many as 1.5 million adults are using injections, also called GLP-1 receptor agonists, to limit their appetites and help control ‘food noise'.
While medications that restrict hunger or food absorption aren't new, the use of these drugs for weight loss, which were originally created and licensed as a treatment for diabetes, is. In many cases, the outcomes are remarkable; however, there is also a darker side to ordering medications online, with a growing number of unethical traders taking advantage of the trend.
Meyer Clinic, a private holistic healthcare and well-being team based in Chichester, shares some insights from the perspective of its clinicians, explaining how anyone keen to improve their health and weight should seek personalised guidance, protecting their well-being along the way.
Why There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Answer to Healthy Weight Loss
Let's start by clarifying that weight loss doesn't automatically mean injections or medications at all. There are multiple ways our nutritionists, practitioners, and hormonal specialists might help a client feel more active and capable in their own skin – but there is no ignoring the huge interest in weight loss injections.
These medications can prove transformative. Many patients have been delighted to find a way to curb cravings and overcome weight loss plateaus, often in conjunction with a fresh look at their diet and lifestyle, and eliminating underlying health concerns that may have been impacting their body composition.
However, weight loss jabs aren't for everyone. There is an equally long list of contraindications, which means medical conditions or other factors that could mean a particular drug isn’t safe for you, or that an alternative approach to weight loss would be much more sustainable.
Safety concerns are mounting, with a recent alert issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to spikes in fake injections being sold online. Batches seized either contain no active ingredients or are manufactured with unknown medications that could have significant side effects.
In addition, the NHS has published guidance for GPs and other prescribers setting criteria under which patients may be eligible for a prescription. This equally means more and more patients are ordering medications online and taking them without any form of proper medical supervision or support if they experience an adverse reaction.
This is why we strongly urge anyone of any age who wishes to lose weight, for any reason, to consult a seasoned, regulated professional who has their health, welfare, and safety in mind, and will only recommend medication when it is a safe option for you.
Understanding the Benefits of a Holistic and Bespoke Weight Loss Plan
Losing weight can be hard and frustrating, no doubt, and here at Meyer, we approach every patient as a unique individual, listening to your concerns and wishes, understanding your health profile, and creating targeted, effective treatment plans that we know will work.
Our weight loss consultations are an in-depth, entirely confidential service where we'll take all the time needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of your health and complete a painless yet highly insightful InBody Composition Analysis.
InBody is a cutting-edge scanning system that provides an accurate assessment of your body composition, and we can share the results with you, allowing you to see your muscle-to-fat ratios and identify areas where it may be beneficial to focus on reducing fat levels, such as around your organs.
In some cases, the treatment plan we agree together may include a weight loss injection prescription, but can also involve hormonal tests to identify imbalances, given that hormones are an incredibly common culprit behind weight loss struggles!
We can also suggest blood tests and checks to determine if intolerances or allergies are a factor, and even DNA tests, which give us customised data about your morphological genetics, which influence the best ways to manage your weight.
Moving forward, we can then advise on aesthetic and healthcare treatments, schedule ongoing check-ins to monitor progress, and repeat scans and tests to provide quantifiable evidence of the improvements made.
This depth of personalisation is all about shaping treatments around you, rather than prescribing one treatment for everyone, without making any guesses or assumptions about what will be the ideal option for your lifestyle.
How Prioritising Sustainable Weight Loss Is Key to Seeing Long-Term Changes
We’ve all heard of the rather unkind references to ‘Ozempic face’ in the press. This is an unfortunate side effect that most often occurs when a person takes weight loss medications in too high a dose for them, or for a prolonged period that may not have been necessary, resulting in a loss of healthy fat and tissue that can make the individual’s face appear gaunt and drawn.
This is another compelling reason to approach your weight loss journey as a long-term investment in your health, rather than a short-term treatment plan that aims to lower your body fat as quickly as possible, by any means necessary.
Steady, controlled weight loss means you can gradually increase your activity levels and embrace a health-positive nutrition plan, without any negative impacts on your appearance.
Rapid weight loss can seem an appealing prospect. Still, the reality is often very different, as the side effects on your metabolism, appearance, skin health, and mental well-being can be profoundly negative. Without a gentler approach, your body may not be able to respond to changes in your calorie intake, leading to the sacrifice of muscle mass.
Private, Professional, and Supported Fat Loss Consultations
The Meyer Clinic team is always available to provide more personalised advice and discuss our recommendations. If you are already using weight loss medications, we can also suggest leading aesthetic and cosmetic treatments to address any concerns about the unwanted side effects of sudden weight loss.
Our bespoke consultations are easy to book via our online calendar, and you can select a day and time that is convenient for you, whether you’d like to meet with Dr Olivia Goncalves, our in-house private GP, or Dr Annelize Meyer, our Founder and Medical Director, who specialises in female hormonal and aesthetic treatments.
Read more about Meyer Clinic - Award-Winning Meyer Clinic in Chichester Welcomes New Private In-House GP
About Meyer Clinic
Meyer Clinic is a private health, wellbeing and aesthetics clinic in Chichester, helping our patients lead empowered lives by ensuring we take a 360-degree full-body approach to health & wellness.
Media Contact:
Jemma Parnell
01243 771455
https://www.meyerclinic.co.uk
Original Source of the original story >> Approaching Body Composition and Fat Loss Safely
