Never skip taking weight-loss medications, even during holiday season and health coverage changes: UVA Health
VENN
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) -- With foodborne illnesses and changes in Medicare and Medicaid coverage, University of Virginia (UVA) Health experts say never to skip taking your weight-loss medications.
In a press briefing in the morning of Friday, Dec. 12, UVA health experts shared advice on how people taking weight-loss medications can best navigate the holidays, including addressing side effects and being mindful of alcohol use.
"If you really love chocolate cake, allow yourself to have that slice of chocolate cake," said Jennifer Kirby, a diabetes medicine specialist and endocrinologist at UVA Health. "Eat it slowly, enjoy it, be mindful about it and then you're going to have a deeper sense of satisfaction with that, and you might be able to, like, 'I don't need to eat anymore.'"
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As the holidays often signal changes in eating and drinking habits, along with eating out more, Kirby said a major way for Virginians to navigate taking weight-loss medications is to take said medications as prescribed and address issues if there are side effects.
They also discussed the announced plans to reduce the cost of two of the common weight-loss medications -- Wegovy and Zepbound -- for patients enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.
This comes as these drugs have often been exceedingly expensive and have priced out numbers of patients, per Kirby, with only 7 states having anti-obesity medication coverage for Medicaid recipients.
Despite restrictions for many -- in part, due to access -- Kirby urges Virginians who are taking these medications to track their weight and accountability, ahead of Christmas Day. She said those struggling with their weight should be urged to "not [try] to be perfect" during the holidays, Kirby said.
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"Longer times between your doses can actually increase the side effects once you restart them," said Kate Varney, the director of obesity medicine at UVA Health.
Health experts also caution patients on alcohol use during the holidays -- as it can be a massive trigger for side effects -- even leading to a condition called Holiday Heart Syndrome (HHS), which is when binge drinking can lead to fast heart rhythms that can be problematic for individuals.
