SPONSORED CONTENT
- HEALTH & FITNESS
1 users should mind their nutrition, not just weight
By6abc Digital Staff
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 1:24PM
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) –GLP-1 medications have revolutionized weight loss, and they are now being used in many ways to tackle obesity
However, many users may be missing an important element for their success
It’s been barely a decade since the FDA approved Saxenda, the first GLP-1 for weight loss. Today, about one in six American adults has used the drugs at some point
Registered dietician Julie Parrott of Temple Health says they are now an essential tool for the bariatric program to jumpstart weight loss before bariatric surgery
“For the safety of the patient, there is a required amount of weight that needs to be lost,” Parrott explains
They are also an essential tool to resolve other issues before bariatric surgery, such as the woman who needed a knee replacement
“But she couldn’t have that surgery until she lost about 50 pounds. So how do you do that? You can’t do that with just diet and exercise,” she notes
The drugs can also help those who plateau or even regain pounds after surgery
And sometimes, they can be a surgical alternative
“They’re kind of trying to see – can I lose the weight with the medication? Do I really, really need the surgery?” she says
But Parrott worries that GLP-1s are being widely prescribed without nutritional support
She says the drugs significantly quiet “food noise” – cravings that drive overeating even when someone isn’t physically hungry
“It’s great when it decreases the snacking, but when it starts to impact the actual nutrition, you know, skipping meals,” she says
That’s when patients need guidance from dietitians like Parrott
And it’s even more important after bariatric surgery, when the stomach is a third of its former size
“Deficiencies can develop really quickly, in a matter of two weeks or less,” she says
She believes a multi-pronged approach gets patients closer to their goals
“Yes, you wanna see weight loss, but you also want your health. You want your quality of life, and you want it to be long-term,” Parrott says
She says it usually only takes a few tweaks to the diet and a multivitamin specifically for bariatric patients to get on the right track
Report a correction or typo
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Related Topics
- HEALTH & FITNESS
- MOVES IN MEDICINE TEMPLE
