Mounjaro and Zepbound: What is the Difference? Medical Diet Guide "Chapters 4-8"

Introduction

Things you should know before starting a medical diet

Hello, I am Nijimaru, an internal medicine physician😊

Over the past few years, the opportunity to hear the term “medical diet” has increased dramatically.
On social media and YouTube, names of so-called GLP-1/GIP drugs like “Mounjaro,” “Rybelsus,” and “Ozempic” fly around like buzzwords, and it is not uncommon for celebrities and influencers to introduce them as “the reason they lost weight.”

GLP-1/GIP drugs are a new type of diabetes and obesity treatment that combines the functions of two hormones secreted by the small intestine.

GLP-1 has the effect of suppressing appetite and slowing down the speed at which stomach contents are sent to the intestines.
Therefore, it makes it easier to prevent overeating, leading to weight loss, and is also expected to have effects that protect the heart and blood vessels.

On the other hand, GIP has the effect of making it easier to efficiently use fat and sugar as energy.
Also, it is thought that when blood sugar levels are improved by GLP-1, the effects of GIP are more easily exerted, and by the two hormones complementing each other, higher effects are expected in blood sugar control and weight loss.

From a doctor's perspective, there are many situations where “information with only the good aspects cut out” takes on a life of its own.

A medical diet is
not a “magic pill that makes you lose weight just by taking it.”

The reality of the price, the risk of side effects, whether or not it is covered by insurance, and even “how to continue and how to stop”—if you don't understand these, you may end up with a gap where you feel
“it wasn't what I expected...”

That said, if you choose after having the correct knowledge, a medical diet can also be a very reassuring option that “gives you a chance to face your own body.”

In this article, I will explain the basics you must know before starting and the points you want to be careful about as clearly and carefully as possible.

I hope you will use this as material to
calmly judge “which method is right for me?”
without being swayed by information on social media.

Table of Contents

Chapter 4: It's not just benefits!
■ Pitfall 1: Easy to misunderstand that you can lose weight with just medication
■ Pitfall 2: Easy to feel that side effects are “scary”
■ Pitfall 3: High risk if you start on your own
■ Pitfall 4: Seeking results too quickly in a short period
■ Pitfall 5: Easy to feel anxious after stopping
Chapter 5: Points on “correct usage” that doctors want to convey
■ Point 1: First, clarify your “purpose”
■ Point 2: It is basic to start with a “small amount”
■ Point 3: Make “small lifestyle adjustments” at the same time
■ Point 4: Prioritize “physical condition” over weight changes
■ Point 5: Regular follow-up is not “mandatory” but “insurance for peace of mind”
■ Point 6: When stopping, do it “gradually”
Chapter 6: People for whom medical diet is suitable and people who need to be careful
■ Characteristics of people for whom it is suitable
1. People with a strong appetite who find it difficult to control mentally
2. People who have dieted many times and rebounded
3. People with a lot of visceral fat or who are concerned about lifestyle-related diseases
4. People who are busy and “find it difficult to spend time on exercise and cooking”
■ People who need to be careful (people who should judge cautiously)
1. People with weak gastrointestinal tracts who have a small appetite to begin with
2. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding
3. People with specific underlying diseases
4. People with a strong need to “lose weight dramatically in a short period”
■ “Whether it is suitable” is determined by purpose rather than constitution
Chapter 7: How much does it cost? The reality of the price (how much does it take?)
■ How to think about basic costs
■ In the case of beauty clinics (free medical practice): Mainly 20,000 to 40,000 yen per month
■ Cases where insurance applies (when performed as treatment for lifestyle-related diseases)
■ Also be careful about why it is cheap if it is “too cheap”
■ Monthly estimate: Summary of general images
■ So that you can get “effects” and “experience” that exceed the amount spent
Chapter 8: People who can use insurance and people who cannot
■ Conclusion immediately: Insurance applies “only when necessary as treatment!”
■ Conditions for insurance to be effective: Quite a harsh reality
■ What is the difference between “beauty purpose” and “medical purpose”?
■ Simple check to see which one you fall into
■ It is also important to have the perspective that insurance effective = not necessarily a bargain
■ If you are lost, it is okay to consult a doctor once about “whether it is for medical purposes”

Chapter 4

It's not just benefits!