What Does GLP-1’s Do to Your Body?

Eagerly endorsed by celebrities and the rest of us as a game-changing weight loss solution, GLP-1 injections have completely changed the weight loss landscape in a relatively short amount of time.

While GLP-1 medications have proven their mettle as well-tolerated, highly effective and sustainable weight loss injections, many still misunderstand how they work.

In this comprehensive overview of GLP-1s, we’ll go beyond its widely lauded benefits, examining how they interact with the body to launch a multi-fronted offensive against weight gain.

FDA-APPROVED USES OF GLP-1 MEDICATIONS

First, it’s important to understand the official context in which GLP-1 medications are recommended and used. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved various drugs containing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for multiple purposes. Here is a brief summary of the three approved drugs and their FDA-approved uses:

Ozempic injections: Approved as an adjunct (supplement) to diet and exercise to regulate blood sugar in adults with type II diabetes. Also approved for adults needing to lower their risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack stroke, etc).

Rybelsus tablets: Approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to regulate blood sugar in adults with type II diabetes.

Wegovy injections: Approved for weight loss in obese and overweight people. Also approved for weight loss in obese people with diabetes and overweight pediatric patients aged twelve and over.

Whichever preparation you use, it’s helpful to know exactly how GLP-1s interact with various systems and structures in the body to promote weight loss. At De La Belle, we offer compounded GLP-1 in pre-filled syringes for convenient dosing and a treatment plan that is personalized to your unique needs. 

LOWERED BLOOD SUGAR

Most of us have a general sense of what insulin does, but have you ever wondered how it works specifically? Put simply, when your body needs to make use of the sugar in your bloodstream, it signals the pancreas to release insulin, which in turn signals the transfer of the sugar (glucose) from the blood to the tissues, where it can be used for energy. This lowers your blood sugar level.

Insulin release is largely regulated by a receptor in your body called GLP-1. Now, too much insulin actually supports weight gain, as it signals the body to convert energy into fat. So, how does GLP-1 help with weight loss? It does so by lowering blood sugar to a healthier range, and then getting itself out of the way until the next glucose spike. This is one reason why GLP-1 medications are so powerful: they cause a glucose-dependent insulin boost, meaning they only raise insulin when it is actually needed. When the blood sugar goes down, insulin goes down, and the body can now process macronutrients for energy instead of storing them as fat.

SLOWED GASTRIC EMPTYING

Especially when we’re talking about easily digestible starches like white bread and rice, some foods are emptied out of the stomach at a much faster rate than others. When dieting for weight loss, you want to slow this process of gastric emptying, allowing you to feel fuller for longer.

Researchers have found that GLP-1 agonists activate this receptor, slowing gastric emptying to a statistically significant extent. This means that your body will keep the “I’m full” signal going to the brain for a longer period of time instead of making you hungry long before your next scheduled meal. As a parting tip, keeping your diet rich in healthy sources of fiber (vegetables, nuts, fruits, barley, etc.) can slow the digestion of sugars, which is beneficial for weight maintenance and overall health.

APPETITE SUPPRESSION

Another perk of mimicking the effects of hormones that trigger the GLP-1 receptor is the ability to directly suppress appetite. The region of your brain that controls hunger and satiety is rich with GLP-1 receptors. When you eat, your gut eventually releases GLP-1 to signal the brain that enough food has been consumed. GLP-1 agonists create this same effect, but without the necessity of eating beforehand.

Combined with the above mentioned capacity of GLP-1s to slow gastric emptying, this appetite-suppressing effect creates a powerful one-two punch against overeating. Especially for people who struggle to maintain a diet, this appetite-curbing action can make the difference between staying strong and falling off the proverbial wagon.

LIPID METABOLISM

Like many metabolic processes, lipid metabolism (fat burning) follows a sophisticated, multi-step pathway. To keep the 3000-level biochem jargon as toned down as possible, the basic concept regarding how weight loss injections interact with this process goes as follows: GLP-1 analogues activate other receptors that cause an increase in the uptake of proteins that kill fat cells.

In other words, GLP-1 plugs into your body’s existing fat-burning engine, turning the knob up to increase the activity of existing fat-burning mechanisms.

Combine all of these mechanisms, and you have increased fat burning, multiple forms of appetite suppression, and a blood-sugar-curbing effect. It’s no wonder that GLP-1s have exploded onto the scene as a game-changing weight loss injection!

BURST THROUGH WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAUS WITH CUSTOMIZED GLP-1 TREATMENTS AT DE LA BELLE WELLNESS & SPA

We know how discouraging it can feel to toil away at the gym in hopes of losing those last few pounds to no avail. Depending on age, the area of the body, and several other factors, some fat is simply too resistant to exercise and diet for these practices to make the difference.

That’s where our friendly and knowledgeable team at De La Belle Wellness & Spa come in. Proudly serving Memphis, TN and surrounding areas with a complete suite of next-generation cosmetic services, we will partner with you to create a fully customized weight loss plan.

Contact our team today for a consultation, and begin your transformation to a slimmer and more confident you!