Obesity, never long out of public and media attention for any number of reasons, is even more front and center today because of the new medications, the glp-glp-1 analogs, more popularly known by their brand names Wegovy/Ozempic and Mounjaro/Zepbound. In its unprecedented effectiveness alone, this class of medication represents a new paradigm in the treatment of obesity.

Dr. Forbes introduced the use of the first glp-1 agonist, liraglutide, in obesity treatment in 2009, in the post-op management phase of her surgery patients' treatment at the University of Rochester Medical School, where she was a professor of surgery.

This use of liraglutide was both unprecedented and "off-label," which means prescribed for a use not officially approved by the FDA. (Liraglutide was prescribed for diabetes.) However, it worked, with surprising effectiveness, in helping post-op patients regulate their food urges.

Fast forward to the current moment, 2024, when 2nd and 3rd generation glp/glp-1 agonists, Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, have transformed the field of obesity treatment and have even become a social and cultural milestone - "the age of ozempic."

The new medications are indeed powerful new tools in obesity treatment, and they play a central role in the treatment programs at Forbes Weight Loss Center.

And they appear to have other beneficial, cardiovascular and other effects, that are only now beginning to be observed and documented.

The new medications are more effective than any medications before them.� but they are not a universal, one-size-fits-all solution to obesity. other important treatment modalities, notably bariatric surgery, are still crucial, especially in cases of extreme obesity.