Health Beat: My Zepbound Journey (Week 1)

Narration provided by Wondervox.

By Mark McNease.

One of my biggest obstacles, if not the biggest one has been my years-long struggle with what is now obesity. I’m 65 years old, 5’10” tall, and 244 pounds. That burdens me with 50 pounds my body has to bear that it shouldn’t. It increases my risk of a half-dozen illnesses, including stroke, heart attack (which killed both my birth father and his father in their 60s), and that old standby, diabetes.

I’ve tried for at least the past decade to lose this weight, and all it has done is increase. So now, with the determination of the … determined, I’ve decided to bite the bullet. In this case it’s a syringe with a weekly dose of Zepbound. I just started this yesterday, so saying too much about it would be foolhardy. But I am committed to changing the way I eat, to making my relationship with food a much healthier one, and to inhabiting a body that both pleases me and serves me.

A word about cost: as someone on Medicare, with a Wellcare drug plan and a Humana supplemental, these drugs are not covered. I knew that going in, and it’s one of the reasons I put it off until now. I was able to get a month’s worth (4 injections) for just over $1000. Yes, it’s a lot of money. Yes, I’m somewhat privileged to be able to do this for the next three or four months, but no, I don’t feel guilty about that. I would rather spend $3000 changing my body and my life, than having to deal with the consequences of chronic obesity now and in the future.

I’ll be writing more about my Zepbound journey as the weeks pass and, hopefully, the pounds fall away.

Now, about how these drugs work …

Zepbound is one of the newest drugs approved by the FDA for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight. Generally, for insurance to cover it, someone has to also have at least one weight-related medical condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. If you’re like me, you either pay out of pocket or you find a less expensive alternative, including compounded formulas (not something I’m willing to do – it’s a trust issue).

Zepbound belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which mimic the effects of a natural hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar levels.

GLP-1 is produced by the intestines after a meal and stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. GLP-1 also acts on the brain to reduce hunger and increase feelings of fullness and satisfaction. However, GLP-1 is quickly broken down by an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), which limits its duration of action.

Without getting much more technical than that, I can say the drug makes you feel full. I only started taking it yesterday, yet I noticed a distinct absence of food cravings. I didn’t snack in the afternoon, I didn’t have the urge to “anxiety eat,” which is a major problem for me.

Speaking of which, Zepbound is not a magic bullet for weight loss. It must be used in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. The drug can help people lose an average of 10% to 15% of their body weight within six months, depending on the starting weight and the dose. However, the weight loss may plateau or rebound after stopping the drug, so lifestyle changes must be maintained to keep the weight off.

Zepbound and other GLP-1 receptor agonists are promising options for people who struggle with obesity or overweight and have weight-related health problems. They can help improve metabolic parameters, cardiovascular outcomes, and quality of life.

Most importantly: be informed. Work with your physician, and be committed to life after the drug! Zepbound, and the other drugs like it, offer a leg up, not a way out. At least that’s they way it has to be for me. I can’t afford to take this beyond a 3- or 4-month period, nor would I want to. But success is within sight, and I’m determined to get there.