On a recent trip with my family to a waterpark, we were asked to step on scales to make sure we were under the 400-pound weight limit for a two-rider water slide. I looked at my son — a thin, 12 -year-old — and asked, “Do they think we are over 400 pounds?”
As we loaded into the raft, my son whispered, “Mom, if they only weighed the bigger people that would be awkward.”
Weight. It’s a heavy topic for many. It’s discussed in homes, among friends, on social media, at multiple types of doctors, and, yes, even in waterparks.
GLP-1s arrived on the market more than 20 years ago and were studied for 20 years before that. Scientists are still learning about GLP-1, both its benefits and its dangers. It was originally intended to combat type 2 diabetes (T2D). They discovered patients who used them began to lose weight.
Then, in 2017, in a study published in Neuron, the Mayo Clinic found links to insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s, controversially calling the disease type 3 diabetes. Thus, GLP-1s are now being used in Alzheimer’s research.
As the drug became more widely accessible, consumers desired to use the hormone to achieve weight loss. Designed for long-term use and not a quick fix, GLP-1s, like food, are neither inherently good nor bad. The concern that’s raised is about why someone uses it.
Besides T2D, there are multiple justified reasons why someone might choose a GLP-1. Some may include prevention of diabetes, weight loss, sleep apnea, and now possibly to stave off Alzheimer’s.
The main target for judgment seems to be aimed at those who are using GLP-1s strictly for weight loss, because using it for weight loss feels like a short cut; a “get-out-of-jail-free” card.
I have family members and friends using GLP-1s. They told me that taking the drug was not an easy decision. Some confessed that they tried to — prayed to — lose the weight on their own for years, but their efforts came up empty. One tried Weight Watchers twice, one walks four miles a day, one limits her sugar and another had gastric bypass. They all say GLP-1s are different. Now, they can easily stop eating when they are full.
The body signals its full by releasing three hormones, one of which is GLP-1. Could it be that some bodies don’t make enough of these hormones or that it’s malfunctioning in some other way?
When our bodies do not do what we want them to do, many seek medicine. If you have mood swings or depression, there’s a pill for that. Struggle with anxiety? Got you covered. Cholesterol high? No problem, take a statin. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Multiple options. Why is someone’s weight struggle judged so differently?
That judgment is clear: It is your fault. You lack discipline, self-control, faith. All hurtful conclusions.
Truth is, matters regarding weight are nuanced. Many factors influence it — genetics, learned behaviors, trauma, metabolism, age, illness, mental health, the food we eat (and how much) — to name a few. Yet, it’s easy to reach for the low-hanging fruit of lack of self-control as the cause of weight problems.
When someone faces severe clinical depression, the solution isn’t telling them to “Cheer up! Have faith!” We know that’s not going to help. It’s just not that simple.
I’m not trying to limit what God can do. I am, though, reminded of the story of the man in a flood. God sent a rowboat, a motorboat and helicopter to save him and the man declined each time. After he drowned, he asked God why He had abandoned him.
For those who have lifelong weight battles, food addictions and disordered eating, a GLP-1 could be a lifeline, and dare I say, an answer to prayer.
GLP-1s can be a tool for helping people.
For my friends, it’s not about achieving the “perfect” body. It’s about improving future health, vitality, confidence, endurance — and having a healthy self-esteem, which is arguably directly tied to self-image.
I’d say those mental dispositions are invaluable for kingdom work!
Culture, specifically social media, does play a role in dictating a desired “look.” But taking care of our bodies — be it losing weight or other healthy choices — should not be confused with conforming to culture.
Furthermore, it’s unfair, and incorrect, to assume that just because a person is thin that he or she is healthy — or that a person who is not in the “ideal” weight range is unhealthy.
Health, happiness, and being overweight are not mutually exclusive. But if mental health and self-esteem are affected by someone’s weight or they’ve struggled for years, GLP-1 may be a viable option.
Maybe it’s the lifeline they’ve been waiting for. B&R