Read the full article on KETV 7
Popular weight loss drug Wegovy is known as an injectable. But it recently came out in the form of a pill. If you’re interested, you may be wondering: What’s the difference?When she steps on the scale, Sharla Ford is paying close attention.”I would like to lose at least 50 pounds,” she said. “I want to be more active. I’m getting older, it’s about time to retire, and I want to be able to go and do things.”It’s what piqued her interest in Wegovy, a GLP-1 weight loss drug that originally came in the form of an injectable.”I’m.. deathly afraid of shots. So, I was like ‘uh, maybe? But then the pill came out,” Ford said.Every morning, Ford takes one of the pills.”(It’s) been great. No side effects at all, and I have noticed my appetite going down,” Ford said. “Up until recently, it was actually only available as a once-weekly injection. So now, it’s actually available as a once-daily pill,” said Kim Wohlwend, a nurse practitioner and founder of Midwest Mind and Body Healthcare.Wohlwend said, “These medications are getting to the root of obesity. It’s treating the biology of obesity.”She said the pill version of Wegovy is not just beneficial for patients who are scared of needles.”Somebody who travels a lot should maybe look more at the pill as well since the injections do have to be refrigerated,” Wohlwend said.But she said GLP-1 medications like Wegovy aren’t for everyone.”Right now, it’s not recommended for pregnant patients, breastfeeding patients,” Wohlwend said. “Patients with a history of some thyroid cancers, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 in family or personal history of those things, should not be taking the medication.”Wohlwend said it’s important to be screened if you’re interested in a weight loss drug. She said Wegovy does slow down the GI tract, which can cause different side effects, like “nausea, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea and sometimes even vomiting.”But Wohlwend believes GLP-1s can offer promising results for what she says is a chronic health issue.”I think we’re finding that there’s a lot more to obesity than just eating too much or just not exercising enough,” Wohlwend said.As for Ford, she already lost three pounds in the first three weeks of taking the drug.”And I feel like I’m starting to walk more and do more, where before, I just laid around,” Ford said.She’s looking forward to living the life she wants. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Popular weight loss drug Wegovy is known as an injectable. But it recently came out in the form of a pill. If you’re interested, you may be wondering: What’s the difference?
When she steps on the scale, Sharla Ford is paying close attention.
Advertisement
“I would like to lose at least 50 pounds,” she said. “I want to be more active. I’m getting older, it’s about time to retire, and I want to be able to go and do things.”
It’s what piqued her interest in Wegovy, a GLP-1 weight loss drug that originally came in the form of an injectable.
“I’m.. deathly afraid of shots. So, I was like ‘uh, maybe? But then the pill came out,” Ford said.
Every morning, Ford takes one of the pills.
“(It’s) been great. No side effects at all, and I have noticed my appetite going down,” Ford said.
“Up until recently, it was actually only available as a once-weekly injection. So now, it’s actually available as a once-daily pill,” said Kim Wohlwend, a nurse practitioner and founder of Midwest Mind and Body Healthcare.
Wohlwend said, “These medications are getting to the root of obesity. It’s treating the biology of obesity.”
She said the pill version of Wegovy is not just beneficial for patients who are scared of needles.
“Somebody who travels a lot should maybe look more at the pill as well since the injections do have to be refrigerated,” Wohlwend said.
But she said GLP-1 medications like Wegovy aren’t for everyone.
“Right now, it’s not recommended for pregnant patients, breastfeeding patients,” Wohlwend said. “Patients with a history of some thyroid cancers, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 in family or personal history of those things, should not be taking the medication.”
Wohlwend said it’s important to be screened if you’re interested in a weight loss drug.
She said Wegovy does slow down the GI tract, which can cause different side effects, like “nausea, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea and sometimes even vomiting.”
But Wohlwend believes GLP-1s can offer promising results for what she says is a chronic health issue.
“I think we’re finding that there’s a lot more to obesity than just eating too much or just not exercising enough,” Wohlwend said.
As for Ford, she already lost three pounds in the first three weeks of taking the drug.
“And I feel like I’m starting to walk more and do more, where before, I just laid around,” Ford said.
She’s looking forward to living the life she wants.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
