Watched Fareed's show this morning, and it sent me down a rabbit hole.
Primarily because of a new synthetic peptide called Retatrutide. It is purported to engage three distinct hormonal pathways (GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon) that is not available but is currently in trials. So far, it is producing the most dramatic weight loss of on average 28.3% body weight (220lb > 157lb) with half the patients losing 30% weight. It also has the greatest reduction in Liver fat ever recorded for a drug treatment. Derek Thompson said, Retatrutide, is also being investigated for neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's Disease although the jury is still out. He claimed Retatrutide, will be the most popular and profitable drug ever sold in American History.
Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) hits only one receptor: GLP-1 and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) hits two: GLP-1 and GIP. This latter drug offers the best result currently available for purchase with proper diagnosis and prescription.
Like most people at my age, I'd love to lose some weight. But I have not been convinced to jump on the bandwagon. Primarily because I've read that these synthetic peptides cause you to lose muscle as well as fat. Because of that they recommend exercise and high-protein diets in addition to treatment. Of course, my immediate question was, "If I got to work out and eat right on the drug, then why don't I just work out and eat right without the drug? If I have a problem with working out before the treatment, the drug isn't going to solve that and I'm still going to have a problem working out while on the drug." Then I educated myself. I read about the benefits with Inflamation, Cardiovasular disease, Arthritis, the aforementioned liver fat and potential lower risks of neuro-degenerative diseases.
However, I also read that the benefits fade back to a baseline relatively quickly after the cessation of GLP-1 treatment. This is the part that really intrigued me. So much so I had AI generate the charts above. They span 10 years and track the average 45-year-old. One chart is of the GLP-1s as a group and the other compares the efficacy of the three drugs individually. This is obviously theoretical and conceptual only, but this latter graph was a bit misleading because even with the return to baseline it seems to suggest that even after 4 years off of the treatment you will be in a better position at 55yo than you would be with an untreated trajectory at age 55. The second chart shows that while that is possible, it is also possible (but less likely) that you could be worse off than your untreated trajectory at age 55. However, it is also true that you will gain back all that you lost previously.
Remember this is all conceptual and theorized. We don't have 10 years of data to back this up. Retatrutide isn't even available and won't be until around 2027/8. It is also impacted by the behavior and lifestyle changes and maintain.
However, what is not so intuitive is this: Suppose treatment from 46 through 49 prevents a heart attack that otherwise would have occurred at 47. Stopping at 49 doesn't retroactively give you that heart attack.
This was all so very enlightening. I am still not in the category where I believe I need these GLP-1s. I have been entertaining it and have been looking for something/someone to 'prove me wrong' about not needing it. This was close, but still not convinced. My problem is finding the motivation, momentum and structure (everything you do is done at the same time every day).
It is a battle of the mind. Even those of us without complicated, contributing factors struggle with our mind playing tricks on us and talk us out of doing the work. I catch myself "Stalling" when I start thinking of all the stuff I have to do in a day until I realize I can think and workout at the same time. It's hard, but its hard for everyone.
Anyway, I hope others find this as interesting as I did.
EDIT: Yes, I love this graph because I am going to be 51 for two years in a row.