Over 1 billion people in the world are currently living with obesity today – although the world of obesity treatment and management is changing with the rapid rise in popularity in recent years of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions in Australia which has one of the highest rates in the world, ranking fifth among OECD countries. Around 14 million Australians are living with obesity or are overweight – that’s 2 in every 3 adults and 1 in 4 children.

It’s estimated half a million Australians are now using the weight loss ‘wonder-drugs’ which were initially viewed by many patients as a ‘silver bullet’ for shedding the unwanted kilos. The semaglutide products were originally designed to help treat Type 2 diabetes.

“They have had a rapid uptake in the last few years and can be quite effective for people wanting to lose a modest amount of weight, like 10kg. And, it has to be said, that these drugs can get a pretty decent result for many people in that category.

“They’re certainly helpful when it comes to diabetic control and there’s also data to show that it’s also beneficial for improved cardiac function and renal function. 

“But as with every high impact medication, there are downsides and that takes many forms, mostly the side-effects of the drugs including gastro-intestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhoea.”

Wegovy and other GLP-1-mimicking drugs slow gastric emptying, which increases the patient’s sense of fullness. However, due to its general suppressant effect on the body, that can also lead to additional side-effects of reduced libido and can exacerbate mental health issues.

Also on the downside is the cost (prices can range from $200-$600 per month) plus the fact that patients generally have to stay on them for life if they want to keep off the weight that they lose.

“If you see a bariatric surgeon and you have a BMI of 40 or over or weigh around 140kg – and you want to lose 30-40kg, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll be able to lose that with the GLP-1 drugs and keep the weight off.

“In terms of the safety profile and long-term efficacy, the most effective way to lose a significant amount of weight is still bariatric surgery in tandem with lifestyle changes that incorporate effective management of diet and includes physical activity.

“Gastric bypass surgery is the oldest, most established weight loss surgery performed over the last 50 years and is still the most effective procedure for weight loss. It changes the anatomy of the capacity of the stomach – dramatically reducing the appetite over the short and long term. And it provides an effective way to help manage the range of health complications that often comes with obesity.”