Weight loss medicine, like GLP-1s or Ozempic, is making headlines lately, and for good reason. They are a great tool to help those struggling with weight loss. I’m joined by Dr. Matthea Rentea, an obesity medicine specialist, to talk about weight loss medication, working with your medical team, and how this type of medication actually works.   Weight Loss Medications Help By You can tell when you’ve had enough to eat You don’t constantly think about food You can implement behavior changes and stick with them   About Dr. Matthea Rentea Matthea Rentea, MD is Board Certified Internist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.  She has ten years of experience as a primary care physician and weight-loss specialist. She owns and operates the Rentea Metabolic Clinic, a Telehealth clinic for Indiana and Illinois residents that provides comprehensive weight management.  She takes a dual medical and behavioral evidence-based approach to helping her patients. She hosts the podcast The Obesity Guide with Matthea Rentea MD.   Working With Obesity Medicine Specialists It’s not uncommon to experience a sense of shame when speaking to medical professionals about weight loss medication. My guest, Dr. Matthea Rentea, and I both want to assure you that there is no shame in seeking out medical assistance for weight loss! This medical support can only be a good thing. Dr. Rentea shares that most people start seeking out specialist medical support for weight loss when they haven’t received the care they expect from their doctor and are ready to take their weight loss seriously. It might take some time to find a doctor that you feel comfortable with, but it will be worth it.   How Weight Loss Medication Works Weight loss medications, like GLP-1, trigger the hormones that control hunger cues, including suppressing your appetite and letting your body know you’re full. Even though they’re safe to use, some of the most common concerns for using them are feeling negative side effects and being unable to change once you’ve started them.  Dr. Rentea assures you that there is no all-or-nothing approach to weight loss medications. Finding the right one might take some work, but the benefits far outweigh the risks. Have you considered taking weight loss medication? Have you already taken some? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments on the episode page.   In This Episode  The reality of asking for medical support with weight loss [3:30] When you might seek an obesity medicine specialist [5:45] Why you need to keep trying to find the right doctor for you [10:30] How weight loss medications, like GLP-1, work [14:00] The biggest concerns about starting weight loss medication [20:45] The risks and benefits of weight loss medication [23:00] The emotions you might experience while taking weight loss medication [27:30]   Quotes “If you’re going to a doctor and you can tell that they have a lot of resistance in terms of talking about [weight loss medication] – they literally might not know how effective they are.” [5:12] “If [doctors] can’t have those conversations with you, a lot of the time what you’re up against is that there’s just not the knowledge. They just don’t know.” [5:23] “With weight management, there is tons of bias and stigma. This means that you have literally walked in the door and are already getting judged.” [9:22] “You have to keep going until you find someone that you feel gets you, understands you, is providing you with a plan that’s working in your world. It’s going to be different for everyone. I want you to keep going until you find that doctor.” [10:13] “You were always doing the work, but you needed a mechanism to level the playing field.” [15:28] “I always stress that if you’re under the care of the right team, they will be able to pivot you to [a medication], even if it’s an oral, generic option.” [22:28]   Resources Mentioned Fit Women Collective Listen to The Obesity Guide with Matthea Rentea MD Find