Beyond Willpower: Understanding Weight Loss Drugs and Their Impact

This article was written in collaboration with Felix

Key Takeaways:

● Weight is influenced by far more than just willpower. Biological factors like genetics and hormones account for up to 70% of a person's weight.

● Most weight loss medications work by reducing appetite, slowing the rate at which food is digested, and decreasing food cravings.

● Like other chronic conditions, weight management needs an ongoing plan. Alongside medication-based treatment, lifestyle adjustments such as following a balanced diet and regular physical activity should also be made.

● The Felix weight loss program combines access to treatment and a holistic, personalized approach to weight management, plus ongoing support from a healthcare practitioner. Get started with Felix today.

For decades, the conversation around weight loss was dominated by the mantra of "eat less, move more." Yet, for millions of Canadians, this advice fails to acknowledge the complex biological reality of obesity. Modern science confirms that weight is not just a matter of willpower, it is influenced by many factors including genetics, hormones, metabolic rate, food resources, etc. Biological factors account for approximately 70% of an individual's weight.

There’s a shift happening in how we approach chronic weight management, driven by a new class of highly effective medications. These treatments address the biological drivers of weight, offering the hope of a sustainable path forward for those who have struggled with traditional methods.

The Science Behind the Success: What Are Weight Loss Medications?

To truly understand this treatment, we must first shed light on what weight loss drugs even are. Bear with us here while we get a bit technical. Weight loss drugs work by mimicking the action of a naturally occurring hormone mostly produced in the gut that plays a critical role in regulating many of our body’s functions, including metabolism and appetite. Most frequently, your body releases this hormone when you eat.

The way these medications work is very complicated and not fully understood, but in general, these medications are essentially telling your body that it is full in two primary ways:

■ Satiety Signals: These drugs target receptors in the brain to increase feelings of fullness and reduce appetite, effectively lessening "food noise," the intrusive thoughts and constant cravings that make weight loss so difficult.

■ Gastric Emptying: These drugs slow down the rate at which food leaves the stomach, prolonging the feeling of satisfaction after a meal and making you feel full longer.

This combination provides a physiological counterbalance to the hormonal and genetic factors that actively resist weight loss, making them an unprecedented tool in chronic weight management.

Navigating the Treatment Landscape

The introduction of drugs for weight loss has revolutionized the field. Healthcare practitioners now have effective medications to choose from, in order to help patients who are living with overweight or obesity.

There are many notable options for weight loss drugs, but determining which one is best for weight loss is a decision that must be made carefully between you and a licensed healthcare professional. There is no single "best" option, rather, the most appropriate treatment depends on factors such as your specific health goals, any coexisting conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure), other medications that you take, your eligibility for insurance coverage, and your tolerance for various forms and dosing schedules.

While the complexity of these choices can be overwhelming, the available medications currently utilized for their efficacy in achieving clinically significant, sustainable weight loss when combined with comprehensive lifestyle support.

The Path to Sustainable Health: Why Long-Term Care is Key

It is crucial to understand that obesity is a chronic medical condition. Like managing high blood pressure or high cholesterol, weight management requires a long-term strategy. Studies have consistently shown that when medication based treatments are stopped, patients typically regain a significant portion of the weight lost. For this reason, treatment plans are often designed to be long-term, focusing on sustained health and metabolic improvement, not just a temporary fix.

Successful weight management extends beyond medication. Treatments with medications should be used in combination with a holistic approach, including therapeutic interventions to address psychological factors and sustainable lifestyle adjustments, such as incorporating adequate protein and fibre into the diet and engaging in regular physical activity.

Accessing Care: The Felix Approach to Weight Management

Recognizing the biological complexity of weight and the stigma surrounding it, Felix—Canada’s most trusted digital healthcare company—has created a judgment-free, accessible program designed to help millions of eligible Canadians.

The Felix approach centers on a personalized, virtual first model that integrates medication and comprehensive support. Here’s how it works:

■ Personalized Assessment: Start with an online health questionnaire followed by a virtual visit with a Felix healthcare practitioner who is trained in weight management. This ensures treatment is appropriate and tailored to your history and goals.

■ Custom Treatment Plan: If you are deemed eligible, your practitioner will prescribe a personalized treatment plan, which may include one of the various medications for weight loss mentioned above. (Eligibility criteria is based on many health factors, including assessing your BMI)

■ Convenient Delivery and Support: Your approved medication, along with any necessary supplies, is discreetly shipped directly to your door. Or your prescription alone can be sent to your local pharmacy for pickup, if you prefer. The Felix program includes an educational curriculum focused on making sustainable lifestyle changes, covering topics like nutrition and exercise.

■ Ongoing Check-ins: Weight management is a journey, not a destination. Regular follow-up visits with your practitioner allow for continuous monitoring, dosage adjustments, and ongoing support, ensuring your plan remains effective as you progress toward your health goals.

By addressing the biological, hormonal, and psychological factors that influence weight, Felix offers a pathway to effective, sustainable weight management, making these potentially life changing medications more accessible than ever before.