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One in five adults reading this has personal experience taking a GLP-1, according to research from KFF.
GLP-1s have become popular medications in the last few years to help people lose weight, though they are also used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
The CDC reported last year that, in southern states, about 35% of adults have obesity, but we don’t have the exact number for Tennessee because ours was the only state that had insufficient data for the latest national report.
If you decide to take a GLP-1 for weight loss, what do you really need to do to be successful and stay healthy?
This is the latest question the HealthQ team is digging into. (We’ve also been looking at how to save money for medical expenses with Health Saving Accounts (HSAs) and at how dental insurance works.)
You can hear our full story on GLP-1s to get the low-down on what co-host Cara Anthony really thinks about chocolate (you may find her take a bit shocking).
Let’s jump into our key takeaways.
WHAT TO KNOW
GLP-1s are taken primarily through injections, which generally must be refrigerated before use. Photo: Moriah Farmer
➡️ “I can tell you about the patients that I helped lose 50 pounds, that I helped lose 100 pounds, and they still look in the mirror and are not happy,” Dafina Allen, an obesity medicine physician who runs a clinic in Saginaw, Michigan, told us. Your mental health will impact your weight loss journey. If you’re taking a GLP-1, consider asking your prescribing physician for a referral to a mental health specialist or a support group to help you reach your goal.
➡️ Keep in mind that you will likely have to pay out of pocket.TennCare, which generally covers Tennesseans with lower incomes, now offers GLP-1s as part of obesity treatment. However, most insurance programs – public or provide – don’t cover GLP-1s for weight loss. On the federal level, Medicare for older Americans, is planning to allow temporary coverage of these drugs for weight loss starting in July.
➡️ GLP-1s can decrease your appetite, but the old-school rules of weight loss and health still apply. Regular exercise, smart food choices, plenty of sleep will help you lose weight on a weight loss drug and also help you keep it off, said Allen.
➡️ Personal experience to backs this up: “I lost 30 pounds initially without changing anything,” said Jelon Smart, from Savannah Geogia, who tried a GLP-1. But then her weight plateaued. Smart started going to the gym six days a week and credits that change while continuing to take a GLP-1 to helping her lose 110 pounds over the course of a year.
➡️ It’s always important to know the specific medication you’re on and the dosage instructions for your prescription. It especially matters if you need care for side effects or complications. Dr. Gerald Onuoha, an internal medicine physician here in Nashville, told us he has seen patients on GLP-1s come to the hospital with complications like pancreatitis, gallstones, or acute kidney injury. “When we don’t have accurate information about the medication, dose, or source, it makes it more difficult to evaluate and manage those complications safely,” he said.
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MORE TO KNOW
- Tennessee public schools could soon be required to prominently display the Ten Commandments alongside portions of America’s founding documents. The state Senate passed an amendment mandating the change last Thursday. A House version of the bill would just allow schools to display the biblical text. The Tennessean reports the bill now heads back to the House to vote on the new amendment. The bill is part of a wave to legislation seeking to bring religion into classrooms.
- Nashville Electric Service (NES) is planning a rate increase starting next year for FY 2028, though it’s not clear how much that increase might drive up people’s electric bills, WSMV reports. The utility faces intense scrutiny over its handling of Winter Storm Fern, which knocked out power for thousands of homes and businesses in Middle Tennessee. Some waited more than a week to get it back.
- Most trails at Nashville’s storm-damaged Percy Warner Park are about toreopen. The Warner Parks took on unprecedented tree damage in the ice storm. Some areas may not be recognizable. Metro Parks says access returns for primitive, paved, and horse trails on Saturday. But some areas, like the Burch reserve, the mountain biking trails and the cross-country course will remain closed for another two-to-three weeks.
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