The treatment is generally less costly than prescription GLP-1 medication, making it an attractive option for patients on a budget
Umbareen Mahmood, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, says shes now even encountering men and women with already-low BMIs who are using the drugs to lose a few pounds for a big event or beach vacation. Surprisingly, many of these patients are still seeing negative aesthetic side effects, likely due to how rapid the weight loss wasthose who lose weight gradually tend to have better tissue elasticity and skin retractionand also because their margin for loss is smaller given that they were already at a healthy weight for their body. (When someones BMI is low to start, she explains, losing a few pounds can have a significant impact on the little bit of fat you have.) Jerry Chidester, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Draper, Utah, tells me that close to half of his patients are currently using a GLP-1 or have in the past
This corresponds to the clinical recommendation in practice guidance for the treatment of childhood obesity treatment, such as the latest guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Sarhan says it's crucial to use these medications as part of a more comprehensive treatment plan, he says that he's seen "pretty remarkable turnarounds, both in terms of craving and long-term abstinence." What other types of addiction could GLP-1s help treat
Broader health benefits beyond weight Weight loss is just part of the story
