Doctors specializing in bariatric surgeries confirmed to Okaz that sleeve gastrectomy or the use of alternative methods to treat obesity depends on a number of data that determine successful means for each case suffering from weight gain, especially after extensive information was circulated recently about “reduction injections.” Weight”, which began to be used for diabetics, under the pretext that it leads to a feeling of satiety.. The question is, what are the cases in which it is useful to use weight loss injections? What are the caveats of using it? All these questions were raised by “Okaz” at the table of the specialized doctors.
Reduce hunger
Obesity surgery consultant, Dr. Malik Al-Mutairi, believes that weight loss injections are one of the latest drugs used in this regard and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is a needle that is taken periodically, daily or weekly, as it is injected under the skin and often contains The active substance (semaglutide, liraglutide, or Tirzepatide), and the injections work by simulating the hormone that suppresses appetite and the body secretes a number of appetite regulators. One of these regulators is the hormone (1-GLP), and works to inject weight loss similar to the hormone (1-GLP) by binding to (1-GLP) receptors and activating them to reduce the feeling of hunger while increasing the feeling of satiety, and the obese eat less food accordingly. However, these “slimming” injections are not a magic or quick-fix tool. They are considered an aid to complement a weight loss program of exercise and a healthy diet.
The most powerful injection in decreasing
Regarding its effectiveness in losing weight and the cases in which weight loss injections work, Dr. Al-Mutairi indicated that the injections are divided into three types. The first is a needle (liraglutide) that is taken on a daily basis and reduces weight by more than 5% within a period of (3 months), and if it succeeds, the obese can continue. By taking it for two years until reaching the goal of losing weight, and the patient will need to rest every (3 months) and stop taking needles for two weeks. The second type of injection is a needle (semaglutide) that is taken weekly. 70% of patients achieve a weight loss of at least 10%, and nearly 50% achieve a weight loss of at least 15%. In addition, 30% of patients lose 20%. at least after 68 weeks.
And the third is a needle (Tirzepatide) that is taken as a weekly injection. During the study conducted for diabetic patients using this drug, a 23% reduction in weight was observed, and it is the most powerful drug for weight loss currently.
Is it an alternative treatment?
Are weight loss injections an alternative for obese patients to sleeve gastrectomy?
Dr. Malik Al-Mutairi replies: Doctors specializing in obesity treatment usually resort to surgical methods such as sleeve gastrectomy or bypass operations or non-surgical methods such as slimming injections or the traditional or smart balloon, and this is based on medical evidence based on medical studies and recommendations from international organizations such as the Food and Drug Authority American Society (FDA) or American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) or International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) which recommend according to body mass index and chronic diseases associated with obesity blood pressure and type 2 diabetes mellitus; For example, if the body mass index is less than 30, non-surgical methods usually succeed, but if the body mass index is more than 40 and healthy nutritional programs do not succeed, surgical methods of sleeve gastrectomy or bypass are considered the best option, while between 30 and 40 depends on several factors, including diseases. chronic diseases, delayed childbearing, or sleep apnea, etc., and this is a decision taken after informing the reviewer of all the benefits of the methods and their potential complications.
Is acupuncture recommended for all cases of obesity?
Al-Mutairi replies: Slimming injections are not recommended in certain cases determined by the doctor, including if there is a history in the reference family of certain cancerous tumors of the thyroid gland, pregnant women, or those during pregnancy, or those who have been exposed to certain diseases determined by the doctor such as pancreatitis and others. As for ages It starts from more than 12 years old.
Unresponsive cases
Consultant endocrinologist, Dr. Abdel Wahhab Bawhab, revealed that the use of injections is not the basis for weight loss, calling at the same time the importance of changing the lifestyle by following a healthy diet and avoiding eating sugars and starches. Stressing that weight loss injections are used to treat diabetics, and it was found that they work to lose weight because they lead to a sense of satiety and increase the secretion of the hormone insulin, and it is noted that the weight of diabetics decreases from 3 to 10 kilograms, and these types of injections are used for diabetics until drugs with a concentration were produced It is given in the form of daily injections gradually according to the doctor’s prescription, and most patients respond, but there are 15% of cases that do not respond to weight loss as required.
Dr. Baohab directs obese people to perform sleeve gastrectomy surgeries. Because in cases of obesity of the fourth degree, weight loss injections do not work for them. As for Dr. Abdulaziz Abdullah Al-Juhani, who holds a doctorate in medicine and a consultant in general and bariatric surgery, he believes that needles are appropriate and need adherence during and after leaving them.
