I hear a lot of talk around our small town when someone becomes noticeably thinner. “He sure has lost a lot of weight.” “Did she have weight loss surgery?” “I hope he’s not sick.”

What seems to be getting the most attention lately, however, are the number of people who have lost weight with certain medications. And the most popular ones are not pills. They are injections.

One that has received a lot of attention is Ozempic (generic name, semaglutide). What’s interesting is that this drug is NOT approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for weight loss. It is approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes in adults. One of its beneficial side effects in overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes, however, is weight loss.

Other products are approved specifically for weight loss. One called Wegovy contains the same semaglutide ingredient as Ozempic, just in a higher dose. Another is Zepbound (generic name tirzepatide). All these drugs are taken by injection once a week. And if you haven’t seen the ad nauseam ads for these products, you’ve been spending too much time in the kitchen during commercials.

What makes these drugs effective? They work on certain hormones in the body to lessen the urge to eat and to feel full or satisfied sooner after a meal. In other words, they help reduce the craving to eat and the tendency to overeat.

So what’s the fine print? Most all the studies that show these drugs can successfully help one lose weight will state something like, “Treatment included a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.”

In fact, the manufacturer for Wegovy and Ozempic (for people with diabetes) states that these injections are to be used “in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity.” Zepbound “is indicated in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.”

Still, there’s no question these medications are powerful weapons for weight loss. But they’re not magic bullets either. They are for the long-term treatment of obesity. That means the chances to regain weight go up considerably if one stops taking them.

Remember that obesity has been classified as a disease that must be managed for a lifetime. Whatever plan you undertake to rid dangerous pounds from your body, the hardest thing for most people is keeping the weight off once you’ve lost it. And these drugs can be effective tools to help fine-tune eating habits for the long haul.

Most importantly, don’t leave nutrition and exercise out of the equation. There is a huge difference between a healthy and an unhealthy thin person. Glowing skin, tight muscles, high energy and enthusiasm for life come in large part from essential nutrients and physical activity. We need to keep these at the forefront of any weight loss effort.

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