By Jaime Joshi Elder
When patients come into Advanced Surgical Physicians, they run the gamut of the emotional spectrum. Anxiety and fear when first diagnosed, cautious optimism during treatment and wild hope and joy when realizing they are in remission.
Andrew Shapiro, MD also noticed that when his breast cancer patients would come in, they would struggle with weight gain due to hormonal therapy and more often than not, this would have an adverse effect on their mental health.
As the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Breast Center and leader of the Breast Cancer Support Group at Wellington Regional Medical Center, Dr. Shapiro wanted to do more for his patients and he started researching deeper into the advancements in GLP-1 receptor agonists.
This research eventually led to establishing a weight-loss program at Advanced Surgical Physicians which quickly opened to the entire community and not just breast cancer patients.
The program uses Tirzepatide, a medication that has shown promising results for weight loss and blood sugar control and can be found in GLP-1 medications such as Zepbound and Mounjaro.
It is a once-weekly injectable medication that works by mimicking two natural hormones in the body: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These hormones help regulate appetite, blood sugar levels, and metabolism and work in several ways to promote weight loss:
- Decreased appetite: It helps you feel full longer after eating, so you’re less likely to overeat.
- Slower digestion: It slows down the movement of food through your stomach and intestines, which also helps you feel full for longer.
- Improved blood sugar control: It increases insulin production and lowers blood sugar levels, which can help with weight loss and reduce the risk of complications from diabetes.
In addition to significant weight loss – studies have shown that people taking Tirzepatide can lose an average of 15-20% of their body weight in 72 weeks – the drug can also improve blood sugar control by lowering A1C (measure of average blood sugar) levels over time and also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke as a result of both of these outcomes.
As with any medication, there are side effects and the most common ones for Tirzepatide include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.
Patients may also experience fatigue, dizziness, injection site reactions, and, if nutritional intake isn’t maintained during significant weight loss, hair loss.
Mild allergic reactions are also possible and Dr. Shapiro emphasizes that these side effects are often mild and temporary and can often be managed with over-the-counter remedies, proper hydration, and a balanced diet.
Initially, the Advanced Surgical Physicians weight loss program was for patients of the practice but now, the program is open to adults who are overweight or obese and have a BMI of 27 or higher and eligibility depending on medical history such as type 1 diabetes, a history of pancreatitis or thyroid cancer.
A proud veteran and strong supporter of the community, Dr. Shapiro is offering a special discount for first responders, teachers and military members, both active and retired.
To learn more about the Tirzepatide, the weight-loss program and the discount, contact Advanced Surgical Physicians directly at: 561-333-1335.