Virta Health’s Post

GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, are buzzing in the health world. But are they the wonder cure we're all hoping for? With global obesity rates skyrocketing, the debate is hot. Yet, there's no denying the shift toward healthier living is a win for everyone. The health and wellness sectors are already adapting and creating new opportunities. For example, gyms and fitness studios are seeing more members motivated by GLP-1, while the food industry is rethinking its offerings to match healthier lifestyles. For nutrition supplement brands looking to capitalize on the GLP-1 trend, consider developing products and programs that complement these therapies. Focus on formulations that support weight management, metabolic health, and overall wellness. By aligning your products with the holistic health journey of GLP-1 users, you can position your brand as a key player in this growing market segment. It's a dynamic time, ripe for innovative approaches in fitness, nutrition, and mental health. How are you tapping into this trend? #glp1 #weightloss #supplements

When I finish Semaglutide will I regain the weight? That's a great question I get from many patients utilizing this medication. Semaglutide is a great tool to assist in the weight loss endeavor. If we do not change our eating pattern or diet and just reduce our consumption with the help of Semaglutide, then yes once the effects of the drug are gone, we will regain the weight. If we don't begin and continue a habit of exercise, the weight will come back. If we have persistent hormone issues and imbalances, the weight will return. If we haven't changed our habits and thought patterns about eating, food, health, and our weight, it's likely the weight will return. A study in northern Europe looked at patients who had lost weight using Semaglutide. Over a year, half were encouraged to eat a lighter healthier diet and the other half added regular exercise. The group with diet mostly gained back significant weight, while those who controlled diet and exercised kept the weight off. Now we have proof. There is no magic bullet for weight loss. There are great diets, exercise programs, medications, hormone therapies, and psychological strengthening plans, but know that not working in all these areas and keeping the habit going, will lead to regain and frustration. Do it once and be done. I call it "Forever Thin".

We need more companies to focus on research to improve wellbeing. It would be great if the comments about Zoe instead talk about how we can all work together more to understand why today’s diet and lifestyle is resulting in such poor health outcomes. Our microbiome and its impact on our blood glucose control is an element of this – and it’s great to see a focused group of users contribute to research in this area. What’s needed now is for this to happen more, to level up the research we have on prevention, with a budget equivalent to what big pharma has to research and sell pharmaceuticals. #NHS #HealthTech #DigitalHealth

🚀 The health and wellness industry is evolving rapidly, now valued at $1.8 trillion according to McKinsey & Company! One of the key areas of growth? Weight management. According to the consulting firm, nearly one in three US adults struggles with obesity, and 60% are actively trying to lose weight. While exercise is the most popular intervention, over 50% of US consumers find prescription medications like GLP-1 drugs very effective for weight loss. What if achieving a healthy weight didn’t require injections and unwanted side effects? At Nalu Bio, we’re leveraging the power of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) and the unique benefits of no-high THCV to address this critical issue. The ECS regulates many bodily processes, including metabolism and gastrointestinal functions. By harnessing this system, Nalu Bio develops prescription and Vitamins, Minerals + Supplements (VMS) products to solve top health and wellness challenges—including weight management. With promising weight management benefits, THCV interacts with the ECS to influence various physiological processes. Nalu Bio has developed THCV through organic chemistry, which maintains the molecular identity of the hemp plant while providing improved cost-efficiency, scalability, availability, quality, and consistency. Stay tuned for our upcoming article next week, where we’ll dive deeper into the link between THCV and the ECS for maintaining a healthy weight. 💪✨ #WeightManagement #Health #Wellness #Innovation #NaluBio #IndustryTrends

In January BBC Panorama aired - Britain's Obesity Crisis, Are Weight Loss Drugs the Answer. Did you catch it? One individual featured was Kelly, who shared her experience with Wegovy, also known as the "skinny jab." Dr Amati pointed out to her that “The danger is that as you rapidly lose weight, you also lose lean muscle mass” “Losing lean muscle mass is not good for long term health” “Having reduced lean muscle mass puts you more at risk of metabolic disease… long term puts you at risk of frailty”… Kelly said that she didn’t realise how important lean muscle mass was. Dr Frederica Amati also said: “It’s dangerous to take drugs without supervision and knowing that it’s crucial to maintain muscle mass through appropriate nutrition and resistance training”. The key takeaway here is that even with weight loss drugs, we must prioritise the right nutrition and resistance training to shed body fat effectively, as opposed to simply losing weight. There are no magic pills, sustainable weight loss requires consistent effort and lifestyle changes. I’ve put together a nutrition based guide to show you exactly what foods will help preserve your muscle mass, help keep cravings at bay and promote long term health. It’s called Curb Your Cravings and you can get it for £9.99 link in comments.

Are things like Ozempic and glucose control new industry buzzwords? Seeing these things in the industry news more and more certainly has piqued my interest, as I was diagnosed last year with type 2 diabetes and many in my family have it as well. Between the interest in ingredients that help with glucose metabolism, seeing the food industry grapple with consumer changes due to Ozempic and similar drugs, and the marketing of continuous glucose monitors as a biohack for better performance and health, all things related to blood sugar don't seem to be just for diabetics anymore. What are your thoughts on glucose control and how it is impacting the food and nutraceutical industries? Blood sugar control spikes interest across all health markets https://buff.ly/4cETBnw

Data from a recent study suggested that higher antioxidant intake was correlated with lower risk of back pain in females, although this was not significant. #worldhealth #antiaging #aging #regenerativemedicine #medicine #backpain #painmanagement #nutritionalsupplements #selenium #nutritionalsupplements #functionalmedicine #clinicalresearch #health #wellness https://lnkd.in/g-ngSYSW

Is there more to weight gain than just calories in vs calories out? Come find out during part 1 of our webinar series on obesity. We’re exploring all the factors, not just calories, that contribute to weight gain. Read more: https://bit.ly/48I3tdX #PatientCareAmerica #Article #Health #RegisterDietitians

There are so many things that should be more common knowledge- I wish this was one of them. I always shock patients when I talk about nutrient- nutrient impacts of absorption, I feel like a lot of people understand that “we are what we eat”- but they don’t understand absorption of nutrients and all of the things that effect it- especially medications. A lot of people take multiple drugs (and/or vitamins) all at the same time- and sometimes that’s inhibiting drug or nutrient absorption. Most people are unaware of these interactions and take these medications long term- depleting essential nutrients.

Drug-nutrient interactions can impact absorption and metabolism of both the medication and specific nutrients. There is a lot to consider when it comes to making informed decisions on what to eat when taking certain medications, so it’s worth exploring some key points to be proactive in helping to manage your patients’ health.