GLP-1 medications alone aren’t enough for lasting weight loss, experts say

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - This segment on The Three was paid for and sponsored by CVS Health.

GLP-1 medications have renewed focus on the science behind medical weight loss, but experts say medication alone is not enough for lasting change.

Mistie Mace, who developed obesity in early elementary school, said she spent years trying fad diets, portion control, dietary changes and increased activity without success. A later thyroid cancer diagnosis, she said, left her without a functioning metabolism, and weight continued to accumulate through marriage and raising a son with special needs.

“My goal was to be here longer for my son,” Mace said. “He needs me. I want to be there for him.”

Mace said the turning point came when she joined a weight management program through CVS, which paired her with a health coach and focused on behavior change before introducing medication.

“We worked on behaviors first, and then I joined in with my physicians,” Mace said. Working with her care team, she said they agreed on a gradual approach to medication — “low and slow” — rather than a fast escalation. She said she has since lost more than 50 pounds, stopped taking diabetes medications and no longer requires insulin.

Dr. Michelle Gourdine, chief medical officer for CVS Caremark, said GLP-1 medications produce a level of weight loss not previously seen from other weight loss drugs, but cautioned that results do not last without additional support.

Gourdine said the medications work by countering the body’s biological tendency to resist weight loss — a survival mechanism that slows metabolism and increases hunger when caloric intake drops. GLP-1s, she said, keep metabolism elevated and reduce hunger signals.

“The medicines kickstart weight loss,” Gourdine said, “but it’s that long-term behavior change and support that drives towards lasting success.”

Gourdine said health coaching helps patients integrate lifestyle changes — including diet and physical activity — into demanding daily routines. She cited Mace’s roles as a nurse, mother and wife as an example of why personalized support matters.

More information is available at cvshealth.com.