To “skinny jab”, or not to “skinny jab”? That seems to be the question…
At least it is one I am encountering, both professionally and in social interactions as well. There
are strong and valid opinions on both sides, so what is the answer?
Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, there is not a definitive answer; we are all different and what is
right for one, is not necessarily right for another.
It is not my place to tell you whether you should go on this medication or not, I am not a doctor
and not able to prescribe them. Nor am I an expert in this area. I do however hope to give you
some things to think about.
There is no doubt that they are extremely powerful and life changing drugs. And perhaps
controversially in the world of natural health, I do think that they potentially have a place, for a
small number of people.
That said, my concern about them is substantial, not least the fact that they are being used by
people without proper medical supervision, who are perhaps focused on the goal of losing weight,
but without the full understanding of why their weight is an issue. It is not always an easy thing to
uncover, as there are many potential contributing factors.
I have had my own issues with weight over the years, so I do understand some of the challenges
that you may be facing.
For a lot of people the weight issue is due to insulin resistance (IR). One of the most common
symptoms of IR is weight gain, particularly around your middle, and the inability to lose it!
Insulin resistance is linked to most chronic illnesses and seems to be scourge of our time, not just
in adults, but increasingly in younger people as well. Insulin resistance is reversible, however, it
does take effort. Even type 2 diabetes, the following stage, has been successfully reversed.
Is there another way forward?
I am now able to offer insulin resistance testing. It is a simple finger prick blood test. It is a very
useful metric, irrespective of the “skinny jab”, one I would argue that is useful for anyone
interested in understanding their body and leading a healthy lifestyle.
The test can be done as a stand alone, although full screenings are always available. The cost of
the stand alone insulin resistance test is £65, which includes a half hour appointment to discuss
diet and lifestyle factors, or talk more about the jabs if you are thinking about them. There are a
number of supplements which can help with satiety and insulin resistance, so if you are currently
considering the medications, perhaps that is a route you want to explore first.
Important considerations for the GLP-1 medications:
There is a difference between being slim and being healthy.
The bottom line, as I see it, is whether you go on these drugs or not, if you are struggling with
weight and want to be healthy the likelihood is that you will need to make changes to your diet
and lifestyle choices.
I would argue that if you do opt for the drugs, it is even more important that you address your
choices. Your appetite will be reduced and your ability to make use of nutrients will be down
regulated, therefore it is vital that you ensure that every small bite of food is nutrient dense,
otherwise you are storing up problems for the future. Hydration is another key on these drugs, a
lot of people don’t drink enough water because they feel satiated. Exercise, particularly
resistance exercise is also of key importance, as some of the weight lost is muscle. We know that
muscle mass is an extremely important factor for healthy aging, and muscle mass also helps you
to be more metabolically active. Something to seriously consider if you hope to ever get off these
medications. The likelihood is you will also need to take supplements, as you just won’t be
getting enough from your food, not just because of reduced appetite, but because the GLP-1
injections also slow gastric emptying (which potentially has its own problems) and they lower the
amount of stomach acid and pancreatic enzymes (again, causing other difficulties, for example
reflux or GERD and malabsorption).
If you have any history of the following please do your research thoroughly before deciding to
proceed with GLP-1: thyroid issues or thyroid cancer in the family, further research is required,and with proper advice you can make an informed choice. Other conditions which may preclude
you from taking them: there is currently controversy about people with IBD and pancreatitis
amongst other GI conditions. I hope that from what I have said, you can see why. Neurodiversity
is another area due to the effect of these medications on dopamine receptors. Arguably this is
important for everyone. With all of these areas more research is required.
Although these medications are not entirely new, the way they are currently being used is,
proceed with caution and understanding!
If you are on them or considering them, please do your research and seek out appropriate
professional help. There are many forums, and these can be useful, but they are not a substitute
for professional advice. I believe that anyone who is on these drugs, should be properly
supervised by a well versed professional. The effects are powerful, and it is important to
recognise when an effect becomes a side effect.
Posted in Uncategorised by Acorn Wellness
