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An ongoing conversation is underway regarding the effectiveness and safety of Semaglutide for weight loss. As providers of this medication, we are compelled to add our voice to this conversation. Our hope is to bring clarity where there is confusion, for the utmost benefit of those listening. This is Victory Health Responds.
On Tuesday, July 25th, CNN posted an article by Brenda Goodman titled "They took blockbuster drugs for weight loss and diabetes. Now their stomachs are paralyzed." The article would go on to relay three stories from women across the U.S, two of whom have been diagnosed with severe gastroparesis, and one who experiences frequent vomiting. The article would then go on to explain accurately that (1) these cases are believed to be rare, (2) these drugs have been used for 15 years and have been extensively studied, and (3) delayed gastric emptying, nausea, and vomiting are all expected side effects of all GLP-1 medications.
Yet, for some reason, those facts weren't included in the title.
Let's discuss paralysis for a moment. Gastroparesis is a word with Latin roots broken into two parts: "Gastro" (stomach) and "paresis" (partial or complete paralysis/relaxation). At the risk of diving too deep medically, let us explain just a bit further. The stomach is innervated by the somatic nervous system, while muscles are innervated by the autonomic nervous system. When we refer to "paralysis," we typically refer to an autonomic nervous system injury, which is irreversible. An example of this would be a spinal cord injury that leaves someone "paralyzed" from the waist down.
Unless the nervous system of the stomach is damaged, which is not in line with the mechanism of how GLP-1s work, and has never been documented, the stomach is not actually paralyzed as the title of the article suggests. More accurately, the stomach has slowed, and in the case of these ladies who were interviewed, slowed dramatically.
Slowing of the stomach, or delayed gastric emptying, is not only a known side effect of GLP-1 medications, but it's also one of the core reasons why the medication works! When your body senses food in the stomach, the signal for hunger is reduced. This means you stay full longer, on fewer calories, leading to weight loss.
The article would later go on to express that these specific ladies likely had an underlying slow stomach to begin with, which may have then been compounded by the known side effect of the GLP-1 medication, leading to their extreme stomach slowing.
Believe it or not, the article's content actually illuminated this discussion fairly well, besides the lack of clarity on the above misuse of the word "paralysis." The problem we encounter is that the title specifically amplifies the misuse of this word to dramatize and sensationalize a problem that isn't nearly as dramatic as the title makes it sound.
This is no small error.
Now, because of this misuse and because of the reach of CNN, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people, have their image of Semaglutide and other GLP-1 medications skewed. That is not okay.
The article also fails to mention that the American Gastroenterological Association (the doctors' organization that governs American gastroenterologists - stomach and intestine doctors) recommends Semaglutide as a first-line treatment for overweight and obese individuals desiring to lose weight.
Because of the above facts, we felt the need to include this article in our Victory Health Responds series. We take these things personally because we are protective of our patients! We discourage the misleading and deceptive way in which CNN presented this article and encourage everyone reading this to see the research for yourself.
Semaglutide is an incredibly safe and extremely effective medication for losing weight. There are considerations that need to be addressed, though, which is why we still encourage you to seek out the advice of a professional. As always, we are here for you and happy to answer any questions you may have.
Gabriel Mullins, CEO Victory Health Medical Group
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