The Medical Gastric Bypass: Ozempic/Wegovy and Mounjaro/Zepbound Medications
The Surgical gastric bypass procedure, also called a Roux-en-Y bypass cuts up the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and then anastomosis the Roux limb-small intestine back to a stomach pouch. All this cutting of the stomach, and small bowel can cause a lack of motility/movement of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) that does not show up until after the Surgical procedure. The preoperative motility studies are often within normal limits.
The current weight loss medications Ozempic/Wegovy and Mounjaro/Zepbound, via peptide and polypeptide neurotransmitter pathways, slows down, and sometimes completely stop movement of the GI tract. This inhibition of movement/peristalsis mimics the Surgical gastric bypass anatomically, as well as, imitate the metabolic results of the Surgical gastric bypass. Thus, resulting in vitamin, and micronutrient deficiencies, such as, vitamin B12, vitamin B1, vitamin A, vitamin D, iron (anemia), and calcium.
These vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies are also very likely to appear with the aforementioned weight loss medications. Therefore, when prescribing the weight loss medications, one has to make sure that patients are placed on a nutrition management protocol that account for the high possibility of these deficiencies occurring.
Also, patients should be encouraged to increase the presence of good bacteria in the gut microbiome by drinking probiotics with about 50-70 billion colony forming units (cfu), and juicing to prevent the side effects of pancreatitis, gut paralysis, bowel obstruction, and ultimately dead gut.
Ultimately, the weight loss medications are safer than Tylenol and Motrin if these precautions are implemented. Additionally, the lowest dose to maintain a weight loss of about 1 to 3 pounds (lbs) per week should be achieved, and avoid the maxium dose of these medications. Patients who are considering weight loss drugs to treat obesity, and metablic syndrome should be placed on a nutrition management protocol, an exercise therapy protocol consisting of weight training, and resistance bands, as well as, a stress management therapy protocol.