Using Natural Peptides and Tirzepatide for Weight Loss

Managing metabolism and losing weight gets harder as you age, especially for women. Certain biological functions, like menopause, lend themselves to gaining and keeping weight; they are natural and normal.

But it’s not fun… and it can be very unhealthy.

This is especially true if you are at risk or have Type 2 Diabetes or Cardiovascular issues, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or other heart issues. Menopause in women can exacerbate the problems, especially when you are trying to lose weight.

At Weighless MD - St. Louis, we have years of experience helping women and men lose weight in St. Louis MO and restore the balance within the body so you can be healthy and happy. In this article, we will talk about the role of a couple of natural peptides in your body, what they do to affect your weight and health, and the use of Tirzepatide to regulate these peptides and help you lose weight.

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Let’s Take a Look at Natural Peptides

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are the two primary hormones secreted from the intestine when you eat something with sugar. These hormones stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells.

You’ve probably heard about pancreatic β cells when it comes to type 2 diabetes because they are the ones that produce insulin and are damaged or destroyed as type 2 diabetes progresses. When you don’t have enough pancreatic β cells, glucose builds up in your blood, raising your glucose and A1C levels and putting your kidneys and heart at risk of failure.

What’s special about GIP and GLP-1 is that they equal the amount of glucose you eat, so you don’t overstimulate your pancreas. Additionally, GIP and GLP-1 help preserve pancreatic β cells by inhibiting apoptosis cell death and may even help them regenerate.

In type 2 diabetes, these hormones begin to lose their function, and researchers don’t really know why. Besides their role in glucose regulation, these hormones reduce appetite and food intake and aid in weight loss.

If we flip this around, we run into GLP-1 agonists (agonist=helpers). These fall under a class of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. They also aid cardiovascular health, helping to improve heart function and reducing the risk of a heart attack. And this medication, Tirzepatide, is what we are talking about today.

GLP-1 agonists help lower serum glucose levels. Participating clinicians can use these medications in specific patients who need help with weight loss and the feeling of fullness when they eat.

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How Tirzepatide Works With Peptides

Tirzepatide is a GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that has been on the market as a type 2 diabetes drug with low rates of side effects. It’s been a trusted and well-used medication that helps people lose weight and manage type 2 diabetes.

At the end of last year, it was approved for weight loss as a weekly injection. Now, Weighless MD - St. Louis can bring this to you to help make your weight loss journey more productive.

Along with a proper diet for your body and exercise, Tirzepatide can help you control your appetite and blood sugars. Working with a professional can help enhance your weight loss.

You would visit your clinic weekly for a small injection. It’s a quick and easy appointment that helps you all week long. You’ll also receive proper diet and exercise education so your body gets what it needs without trying to pack anything extra. Most people experience feeling full and happy on less food while losing weight and gaining energy.

Some people experience other effects that benefit them. GLP-1 also stimulates luteinizing hormone, which may help increase sex drive in women. Some studies show that GLP-1 can increase TSH, which can help increase energy. People self-report that they feel happier and more in control of their well-being when on the medication, although this has not been proven in studies.

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Side Effects and Health Risks of Tirzepatide In St. Louis MO

No medication is without risk, including Tirzepatide. However, the risks are lower than many other medications. The most common side effects of GLP-1 agonists like Tirzepatide include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You will feel full for longer after you eat, and you could feel nauseous if you try to eat beyond the feeling of fullness.

However, if you aren’t careful, take too much, or obtain it without professional guidance, it can cause severe issues, like acute kidney injury, mild tachycardia, infections, headaches, and dyspepsia.

That’s why you should work with the experienced team at Weighless MD - St. Louis to help you understand what you could experience and the signs of the medication working. We can help you understand these signs and provide counseling on eating properly so your weight loss and healing journey can be productive and easy.

Tirzepatide is a medication and should be treated with respect and consideration if you are having issues losing weight. Working with us can help you understand your particular issues and use Tirzepatide properly. And once you kick off your weight loss, you’ll have the education and support from us you need to continue to keep the weight off for good!

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References:

Baggio LL, Drucker DJ. Biology of Incretins: GLP-1 and GIP. Gastroenterology. 2007;132(6):2131-2157. doi:https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2007.03.054

Collins L, Costello RA. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. [Updated 2024 Feb 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/

Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine. 2022;387(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa2206038

Nauck MA, Quast DR, Wefers J, Pfeiffer AFH. The Evolving Story of Incretins (GIP and GLP‐1) in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease: A Pathophysiological Update. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2021;23(S3):5-29. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.14496

Seino Y, Fukushima M, Yabe D. GIP and GLP-1, the two incretin hormones: Similarities and differences. J Diabetes Investig. 2010 Apr 22;1(1-2):8-23. doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2010.00022.x. PMID: 24843404; PMCID: PMC4020673.

Yabe D, Seino Y. Two incretin hormones GLP-1 and GIP: Comparison of their actions in insulin secretion and β cell preservation. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology. 2011;107(2):248-256. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2011.07.010