Over the past years, scientists and researchers have come up with various weight loss drugs that can help people lose weight effectively. One of the latest developments is an exercise mimetic that causes the body to exercise more instead of affecting appetite or food intake.
In a study on rats, the drug boosts a natural metabolic pathway that responds to exercise, making the mouse’s body use fatty acids more even while at rest. At the same time, the mice kept eating the same amount of food and didn’t exercise any more than usual.
Of course, this is only one of the slew of “miracle weight loss drugs” appearing on the market. In a previous post, we wrote about the weight loss results that are possible on a six-week Ozempic plan. Unlike exercise mimetics, Ozempic belongs to a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists that help regulate blood sugar levels, control appetite, and promote weight loss.
Still, despite all the science and research, it’s important not to rely solely on weight loss drugs for effective, long-term results. So, below let’s take a look at the importance of healthy lifestyle changes in creating sustainable weight loss:
Habit formation
One of the key benefits of focusing on lifestyle changes as much as you do on medical weight loss is creating healthier habits for the long term. This is why most weight loss programs focus on tailoring the weight loss journey around your lifestyle, helping you develop healthier habits to lose weight and keep it off.
Unlike weight loss drugs, weight loss programs also focus on sustainability, helping people lose weight slowly but surely, at up to one kg per week. This is because instead of focusing on drastic restrictive diets, weight loss programs also look at other lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and the quality of sleep you get. As such, developing good habits leads to a lifetime of positive health changes rather than “instant” solutions — which often work best with better daily habits, anyway.
Emotional well-being
Another benefit of focusing on lifestyle changes for weight loss is understanding its impact on your mental and emotional well-being. After all, nutrition and mental health are more connected than you might think. Healthy eating and drinking have been shown to improve some mental health disorder symptoms.
Healthy nutrition high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes is also associated with a reduced risk of depression. So, while losing weight instantly can feel good in the short term, it’s important to note that improving your mental and emotional wellness in the long term is just as important.
Lower risk of health issues
It’s also crucial to remember that most weight loss drugs — like other medications — are bound to have side effects. There is still ongoing research on the long-term implications of weight loss medication like Ozempic, such as recent reports of hair loss due to a lack of healthy nutrition, as the medication suppresses appetite.
Even outside of weight loss medication, highly restrictive diets can also harm one’s physical and mental health as they limit the healthy nutrition you should be getting. Therefore, it’s essential to balance effective weight loss with healthy and sustainable habits that ensure your body can withstand the changes.
Long-term sustainability
Finally, fostering healthy lifestyle changes can help address the root causes of weight gain and support your body for healthy and sustainable weight management. For example, adopting a balanced diet instead of extreme calorie restrictions that are unsustainable helps you maintain your weight more healthily. You can also adopt a healthier mindset, like mindful eating, which enables you to develop a good relationship with food and your weight.
Unlike quick fixes, long-term sustainability considers how your body will look in the future and how it feels and moves. You’ll need to be able to move around independently and avoid illnesses as you grow older, so healthy lifestyle changes can ensure you stay fit and enjoy your life to the fullest.