Why the Hype About Weight Loss Drugs?
Jeunesse MedSpa® | July 3, 2025 | no responses |
Wellness
Understanding the buzz and what it could mean for you
It’s hard to miss the headlines. Celebrities are slimmer. Clinics are fully booked. And words like “Ozempic” and “weight loss injections” are being whispered everywhere from Instagram to dinner parties. But what’s really behind the hype and is it something you should consider?
Let’s break it down.
The science behind it
The buzz isn’t just marketing. Medications like semaglutide (used in products like Wegovy) and liraglutide (used in Saxenda) belong to a class of drugs originally designed for diabetes. But researchers noticed something interesting – patients were losing significant weight.
These medications work by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1. It slows down stomach emptying, helps regulate blood sugar, reduces appetite, and signals to your brain that you’re full. The result? It’s easier to eat less without feeling constantly hungry or deprived.
It’s not magic but it is effective
These medications aren’t a quick fix. They work best as part of a holistic plan that includes nutrition support, lifestyle changes, and movement, which is exactly how we approach it at Jeunesse.
But when used correctly, the results can be powerful. Clinical trials show average weight loss of up to 15% of body weight over a year, and many patients report feeling more in control of their eating and more hopeful about their health.
So, why the hype now?
Weight loss medications have actually been around for decades but many earlier ones had poor results or unpleasant side effects. The newer generation of GLP-1s has changed the game by offering real, sustainable weight loss for the right patient.
And let’s be honest, we’re living in a time where weight and wellness are top of mind. People are no longer just trying to fit into their jeans. They’re looking to reduce their risk of diabetes, improve mobility, lower blood pressure, and feel better in their bodies. For many, these medications offer a new way forward when other methods have failed.
Is it right for you?
At Jeunesse, we don’t hand out prescriptions based on trends. We take time to assess your individual health, history, and goals. We look at the root causes of weight gain : hormones, stress, metabolism, lifestyle and work with you to build a plan that feels supportive, not shame-based.
If medication is part of that plan, we’ll guide you through it carefully, monitor your progress, and make sure it fits within a broader approach to long-term wellness.
Final thoughts
Yes, the hype is real, but the hope is too.
Weight loss medications have opened a door for people who’ve been stuck in a cycle of dieting, frustration, and disappointment. And with the right guidance, they can be a powerful tool not just for weight, but for confidence, energy, and overall health.
If you’re curious, we’re here to talk. Book a consultation with our team to explore what’s possible and what’s right for you.
SAXENDA® is a prescription medicine that is unfunded – a prescription charge and doctor’s fees will apply. Saxenda® is used for weight loss, in addition to diet and exercise, in adults with a BMI ≥30 (obese) or ≥27 to <30 (overweight) and weight related health problems. Individual results may vary. Only continue using Saxenda® if you have lost ≥5% of your initial body weight after 12 weeks on the 3.0 mg/day dose. Consult your doctor before you continue. Saxenda® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Saxenda® is right for you. Use strictly as directed. If you experience side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional. Very common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, headache. Please refer to the Saxenda® Consumer Medicine Information available at www.medsafe.govt.nz, in your Saxenda® pack or access this online at www.novonordisk.co.nz/content/dam/nncorp/nz/en/pdfs/leaflets/Saxendacmi.pdf before taking your medication.
WEGOVY® FlexTouch® (semaglutide solution for injection). Available in the following dose forms: 0.25 mg (0.68 mg/mL), 0.5 mg (1.34 mg/mL), 1.0 mg (1.34 mg/mL), 1.7 mg (2.27 mg/mL) and 2.4 mg (3.2 mg/mL). Indication: As an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management (including weight loss and weight maintenance) in adult patients with an initial Body Mass Index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2 (obesity) or ≥27 kg/m2 to <30 kg/m2 (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbidity; in adolescents ages 12 years and above with initial obesity* and body weight above 60 kg (*obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) as defined on sex- and age-specific BMI growth charts (CDC.gov) – refer to full datasheet); as an adjunct to standard of care therapy to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease, with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2, and without established Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Treatment with Wegovy® should be re-evaluated and discontinued if adolescent patients have not reduced their BMI by at least 5% after 12 weeks on the 2.4 mg or maximum tolerated dose. Dosage and administration: Administered subcutaneously once weekly at any time of day, with or without meals; starting dose 0.25 mg; increase to a maintenance dose of 2.4 mg over a 16-week period at 4 weekly intervals. In case of significant gastrointestinal symptoms, consider delaying dose escalation until symptoms have improved. If patients do not tolerate the 2.4 mg dose, the dose can be decreased to 1.7 mg weekly. Patients should re-escalate to the 2.4 mg dose if tolerated. Doses higher than 2.4 mg are not recommended. Must not be administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to semaglutide or any of its excipients. Warnings and precautions: Consider the risk of aspiration during general anaesthesia or deep sedation; dehydration in relation to gastrointestinal side effects in patients with impaired renal function may cause deterioration in renal function; there have been postmarketing reports of acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure. Inform patients of the characteristic symptoms of acute pancreatitis, and discontinue if suspected; do not restart if confirmed. Exercise caution in patients with a history of pancreatitis. Not studied in patients: treated with other products for weight management; with Type 1 diabetes; with congestive heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV. Limited experience in patients: aged 85 years or more; with inflammatory bowel disease; with diabetic gastroparesis; with severe renal impairment; with severe hepatic impairment. Must not be used as a substitute for insulin. Should not be used in combination with other GLP-1 products. Treatment in combination with a sulfonylurea or insulin may have an increased risk of hypoglycaemia. The addition of Wegovy® in patients treated with insulin has not been evaluated. Patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy should be monitored for worsening. Not recommended for patients with uncontrolled or unstable diabetic retinopathy. When initiating treatment of semaglutide in patients treated with warfarin or other coumarin derivatives, frequent monitoring of INR is recommended. Pregnancy Category D. Not for use during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Interactions: Semaglutide delays gastric emptying, use with caution in patients receiving oral medicinal products that require rapid gastrointestinal absorption. Undesirable effects: Very Common (≥10%): nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, fatigue. Common (≥1 to <10%): gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, eructation, flatulence, abdominal distension, dry mouth, dizziness, dysgeusia, dysaesthesia, cholelithiasis, hair loss, injection site reactions; in patients with Type 2 diabetes: hypoglycaemia, diabetic retinopathy. (April 2025)
Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Ltd., G.S.T. 53 960 898. PO Box 51268 Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand. Novo Nordisk Medical Information 0800 733 737 www.novonordisk.co.nz. ® Registered trademark of Novo Nordisk A/S 708117. NVN13596. TAPS BG5058-C. NZ25SEMO00064. Date of preparation: May 2025.
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