In recent years, there has been more and more talk about weight loss injections, and not just in doctors’ offices. The topic comes up frequently in articles, on social media, or in conversations between people looking for weight loss solutions.
For some patients, these treatments may be an effective option. For others, however, the results may be limited or insufficient. That’s why, doctors say, the decision should not be made based on the popularity of a treatment or other people’s experiences, but after careful medical evaluation.
Dr. Ionuț HutopilaSurgeon of Excellence in Obesity Surgery at Ponderas Academic Hospitalsays the growing interest in these treatments reflects a growing public health problem: the number of people struggling with extra pounds has risen alarmingly.
In Romania, 6 out of 10 people are overweight or obese, according to the study “Incidence of obesity among the Romanian population”, carried out in 2024 by the Romanian Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (SRCM).
Why are weight loss injections perceived as a quick fix?
“Injectable treatment can now be prescribed by doctors in many specialties, which makes it somewhat more accessible to overweight people,” says Dr. Hutopila.
But there is another factor contributing to the increased interest in these solutions: social pressure related to physical appearance.
“Society creates models that can make obese people look for solutions to lose weight and improve their appearance,” adds the doctor.
In this context, injections for weight control are often mistakenly perceived as a quick fix for a problem that only affects the outside of the body, only what is visible.
Dr. Hutopilă warns, however, that the decision to start such a treatment should not be taken without a medical assessment: “It is not a treatment with effects only on the surface of the body! And it should not be started based on the suggestions found on the Internet or the experiences of other people, even close ones. It is a treatment with multiple effects in the body, which must be indicated and monitored by a doctor. It cannot be used in all situations”, says the doctor, who also adds that “it is precisely the popularity of these treatments that can create a trap: the temptation to use them without being seen by the appropriate specialist.”
Dr. Ionuț HutopilaSurgeon of Excellence in Obesity Surgery at Ponderas Academic Hospital
What exactly are weight management injections?
Although they are popularly known as “slimming injections”, the doctor says that the term is incomplete and does not really reflect their full capacity.
“It’s not just an injection to lose weight and improve physical appearance. We’re actually talking about a subcutaneous injectable treatment that then penetrates the entire body and has complex mechanisms that aim to achieve health through weight control and obesity-related diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and more).”
Specifically, these injectable drugs are substances called GLP-1 analogs, which are similar, but not identical, to hormones produced naturally by the body, especially in the digestive tract.
“After administration, they reach the blood and act in several ways. They influence the central nervous system, causing the reduction of appetite and the feeling of hunger. They also influence the activity of the stomach, slowing down the evacuation of food. Thus, patients end up thinking about food less often and feel the feeling of satiety from smaller amounts of food,” says the doctor.
At the same time, these drugs have favorable effects on carbohydrate metabolism and the cardiovascular system.
“It causes more insulin secretion, which leads to better blood sugar control, being treatment options for diabetic patients who are unable to maintain their body weight,” explains Dr. Hutopilă.
Why can the results be different from patient to patient?
It is expected that injectable treatment will not work the same for all patients because every body is different.
“There is a variability in the response to treatment. In addition to beneficial results, there can also be adverse reactions. If we only refer to weight loss, we must accept that patients have distinct results. We can meet patients who do not respond to treatment (do not lose weight), but also those who register a decrease of up to 15-20% of body weight,” says the doctor.
“Patients must be consistent in taking the injections according to the doctor’s recommendations, without changing the doses or frequency and without stopping the treatment on their own initiative. Also, the treatment does not work on its own. There is a need to improve the eating behavior and adjust the lifestyle.”
It is very important that the treatment is done only under medical supervision.
Weight loss injections and bariatric surgery: two different approaches to the treatment of obesity
It is equally important for patients to understand the difference between weight loss injections and metabolic/bariatric surgeryespecially when it comes to treatment effectiveness and long-term maintenance of results.
The two methods should not be seen as mutually exclusive solutions, but as different but complementary tools in the individual treatment of different stages of obesity.
“Injectable treatment and metabolic/bariatric surgery are two different tools, with distinct results in the treatment of obesity and associated diseases. It is a bit forced to make a direct comparison, but we can point out some differences“, explains Dr. Hutopilă.
In the case of injectable treatment, the weight loss is smaller. The results “they are valid in the short-medium term, as long as the body continues to respond to the medicine, and the patient manages to follow the recommendations and change his eating habits.“, says the doctor.
“If we talk about the results of bariatric and metabolic surgery, weight loss is more effective, with the possibility of reaching the optimal weight and maintaining it at a distance. Associated diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea follow the same direction, towards improvement and remission, even more than ten years after the surgical intervention“, explains the specialist.
These results can be obtained after a single minimally invasive bariatric surgery, which will cause metabolic changes and change in eating behavior. Also, the surgical intervention must be part of a program dedicated to the treatment of obesity.
The choice of treatment must be made together with the doctor, not according to trends
“Injectable treatment, bariatric surgery and the other methods are tools in the hands of doctors“, concludes the doctor. Therefore, each patient needs an individual assessment. “There is no single treatment that works the same for everyone. People who are affected by excess weight should talk to a doctor specializing in obesity, who will explain to them what options are available and which one is best for them“, says Dr. Hutopila.
At Ponderas Academic Hospital’s Center of Excellence in Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, patients can receive a complete evaluation and guidance in choosing the right treatment, whether it’s drug therapy, bariatric surgery, or a combination of the two.
