There’s a lot of talk these days about GLP-1s (such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound) being a “miracle” weight loss drug. But let’s put it in perspective. Before you consider taking GLP-1 medications, consider the fact that weight isn’t the only measure of health.
It’s easy to get caught up in the number on the scale. But as Dr. Stewart Decker, a family medicine physician at Sky Lakes, explains, weight alone isn’t the best indicator of health. “Weight is an inaccurate measure of health… it’s just not the most important medical marker for overall well-being,” he says. “It’s a surrogate measure that we use all the time because it’s easy to get.”
The Bigger Picture of Health
Long-term wellness depends far more on your daily habits than your weight. The six key topics include:
- Nutrition: A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fiber
- Movement: Daily physical activity that makes you slightly short of breath
- Rest: Seven to eight hours of quality sleep each night
- Avoiding harmful substances: For example, tobacco, excessive alcohol, other harmful habits
- Stress Management: Limiting chronic stress and having healthy coping strategies
- Community: Supportive relationships that help you thrive
These lifestyle factors lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and dementia, regardless of your body size. “If you want to be able to walk around the block when you’re 90, you better start walking around the block now,” Dr. Decker says.
When GLP-1s Enter the Conversation
GLP-1 medications can be powerful tools for people who need additional help, especially if they have type 2 diabetes or obesity-related health risks. “They are very effective medications… I honestly don’t have many patients who don’t achieve significant weight loss with them,” says Dr. Decker.
However, he emphasizes that GLP-1s aren’t a substitute for healthy living. They mostly guarantee improved blood sugar control and some degree of weight loss (15–20%). But better diet, fitness, and stress management are still up to you. For many people, lifestyle changes should come first, with medication only added when:
- Blood sugar remains high despite lifestyle improvements
- Obesity is contributing to serious health risks such as cardiovascular disease
- Other weight loss methods have been unsuccessful
Combining Lifestyle and Medication
Even if you’re taking GLP-1s, the basics matter. “Regardless of what happens with your weight, we need to make sure we tune up those six topics within lifestyle medicine,” Dr. Decker says. This not only supports weight loss but also ensures you’re improving your health in ways the scale can’t measure. Then, if you still want to lose weight, he says, “GLP-1s are a great tool.”
GLP-1s Don’t Replace a Healthy Lifestyle
Weight loss alone doesn’t guarantee better health. Focusing on nutrition, exercise, sleep, healthy habits, stress, and community creates a foundation for lifelong wellness. GLP-1 medications can help in certain situations, but they work best when added to — not replacing — a healthy lifestyle.
Need a Lifestyle Change?
The Sky Lakes Wellness Center’s Lifestyle Change Program incorporates evidence-based practices from those who have succeeded with long-term weight loss. Our four month program will guide you step by step, helping you shed pounds while reversing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
