I think by now everyone is aware of the Semaglutide weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus which are being marketed as “miracle drugs” due to their ability to lower blood sugar and elicit weight loss in people with diabetes and/or obesity - WITHOUT diet and exercise lifestyle changes! Indeed this does seem like the miracle so many have been waiting for.

These drugs will undoubtedly be part of New Year’s Resolutions for many who are overweight and/or who have type 2 (lifestyle) diabetes. Although the side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, heartburn, and now it appears suicidal ideation, are worthy of serious consideration, for most the risk from diabetes and obesity are far greater.

I don’t want to make the argument against relying on these drugs based on the risk:benefit analysis of possible side-effects vs possible benefits from significant blood sugar reduction and body fat loss. Excess body fat and chronic high blood sugar are, without a shadow of a doubt, deadly. Both high blood sugar and excess body fat are highly inflammatory and cause immune system dysregulation, and chronic systemic inflammation and immune system dysregulation are the major causal factors in virtually every chronic illness including cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's and Dementia, depression, chronic pain, irritable bowel, Crohn’s Disease, chronic fatigue, infertility, sexual dysfunction, and every other chronic lifestyle illness.

What I want to point out and emphasize is that type 2 diabetes and obesity are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits, and that they are preventable and curable with the adoption of healthy lifestyle changes – and gradual, easily sustainable, not extreme lifestyle changes.

Perhaps most importantly I want everyone to understand that proper nutrition and sufficient exercise are not just essential to prevent and/or cure diabetes and obesity and that it is entirely possible to take drugs to reduce the markers of diabetes and obesity and still be very sick and at high risk for chronic illness, significantly reduced quality of life, and early death.

Proper nutrition and sufficient exercise are required for the proper function of every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body, and poor nutrition and deficient exercise are the primary causal factors in all chronic lifestyle illness. The risk from poor nutrition and deficient exercise cannot be erased by taking a drug! Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are not healthy food or nutrients and they are not sufficient exercise - nor do they mimic the physiological effects of healthy food and sufficient exercise!

The undeniable FACT is that you cannot be healthy, reach your potential for quality of life, or lifespan, without sufficient nutrients and sufficient exercise. The undeniable FACT is that you can most certainly be healthy without Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus.

The take home point is that you will never be truly healthy or happy without a healthy lifestyle. No matter what, you need to Eat Well - Move Well - Think Well®. For more information, please visit www.eatwellmovewellthinkwell.com.