First, be clear about what you want to achieve. In addition to providing context, sharing goals helps your doctor decide whether medications are right for you or whether other approaches might be better suited.
“Significant weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and reduced cardiovascular risk are common goals for people seeking GLP-1 treatment,” says Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, an obesity medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston.
Other common goals include wanting to feel better physically and mentally as well as improving endurance, mobility, or longevity, says Allison Rhodes, MD, a physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus who is board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine.
But don’t expect everything to happen at once, says Dr. Stanford.
“Unrealistic goals include rapid or extreme weight loss, cure of obesity, or permanent results without continued therapy,” she says.
Based on what you share, your doctor can help you manage your expectations and set realistic goals, even if GLP-1s aren’t right for you.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/VWH-GettyImages-1924876062-5a807c20b3d141f8b76b7f0396578e32.jpg?w=390&resize=390,220&ssl=1 "5 Supplements to Take with Magnesium for Maximum Health Benefits")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1399343013-7b54a4c370b44b2f818cd72dc581378d.jpg?w=390&resize=390,220&ssl=1 "Quelles algues vous conviennent?")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1913303727-132e538ff12b4217a299bd60c9520b7d.jpg?w=390&resize=390,220&ssl=1 "Which one is the most effective for sun protection?")