Renowned cardiologist Dr. Kafri emphasizes the significance of exercise and heightened physical activity for weight loss and heart health.
By Dr. Kafri
In today’s fast-paced world, where we all seek rapid solutions to our problems, many are turning to medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy to address their weight concerns. While these medicines, classified as GLP-1 receptor agonists, have shown impressive results in weight loss and glycemic control, they aren’t a standalone solution. As a cardiologist overseeing a comprehensive obesity program, I believe in the importance of a holistic approach when it comes to tackling obesity and ensuring optimal cardiometabolic health.
Firstly, it’s essential to understand that weight management is more than shedding pounds. As per recent studies, some pitfalls are associated with the use of GLP-1 agonists. For instance, there’s potential for appetite-related adverse effects like food aversion and dehydration, and these medications might lead to abnormal food intake patterns. A comprehensive and individualized approach ensures that these pitfalls are detected early and addressed adequately.
But let’s move beyond medications for a moment and talk about a critical component of health: exercise. The importance of physical activity during weight loss cannot be overstated. Not just for the weight loss itself, but for overall cardiometabolic health. A recent study in Nature highlighted how a combination of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) resulted in significant improvements in body composition and physical capacities in people struggling with obesity My take on the study is that during weight loss phase, sticking to a steady, moderate workout is good enough. But longer term, if you want to improve your heart health, it is better to mix in short, intense exercise with longer, moderate exercise. This type of exercise improves your cardiovascular fitness (i.e., how your body uses oxygen during exercise), measured by VO2 max. This is why we measure VO2 max in our clinic as people lose weight: it helps us properly guide people in an exercise regime that improves their heart function over the long run.
It’s not just about losing weight but about losing it the right way. For cardiometabolic health, the kind of weight loss and the type of exercise is as vital as the quantity. It’s about ensuring that the heart and metabolic systems are functioning optimally as the weight drops.
This leads me to my third point: the invaluable role of a well-informed team in one’s weight loss journey. Nutritional needs shift as weight drops and exercise regimes change. It’s a dynamic process. Incorporating an interdisciplinary approach to obesity treatment, including medical, psychological, dietary, and behavioral interventions, is optimal for comprehensive care. This is what led me to partner with Enara Health, a pioneering program offering access to behavioral, nutrition, and exercise coaches, so that we can provide custom and personalized plans tailored to each individual’s heart and metabolic risk. As we continue to make strides in obesity research and treatment, always remember it’s a journey, not a race. And every journey is better with the right companions by your side.
In conclusion, while medications like Ozempic and Wegovy offer promising results, they should be a part of a broader, more comprehensive approach to weight management. Simply put, it’s not just about what you eat or how much you exercise; it’s about ensuring that every piece of the puzzle fits perfectly.
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Kafri Heart and Vascular Clinic is a state-of-the-art comprehensive cardiac and vascular center dedicated to diagnosing, treating, and preventing cardiovascular disease in the greater San Diego community since July 2009. We are committed to providing accessible, compassionate, and personalized care that goes beyond the exam room to help patients lead happy and healthy lives. To learn more, please visit www.kafri.com.
Enara Health is a US-based digital health company that is building a data-driven platform and network to scale obesity treatment. Enara’s platform helps clinics and medical groups launch, manage, and staff insurance-covered cardiometabolic and obesity programs. By combining mobile technology with health care visits and providing patients with personalized physician-driven medical weight loss programs, Enara Health routinely helps patients lose—and keep off—more than 15% of their baseline weight. Learn more about Enara Health by visiting enarahealth.com
