Why is it sometimes not enough to just eat less and move more and are weight loss medications effective? – “The Truth About Obesity” at Women’s Weekend

More than 800 million people today live with obesity – 650 million adults and 150 million children. This chronic disease causes as many as 2.8 million deaths each year, more than people dying from hunger, and it is still surrounded by numerous myths and prejudices. Why is it so difficult to lose weight? Is obesity just a consequence of bad habits or is there a much more complex problem behind it? Are medications like Ozempic, Saxenda, and Wegovy the solution and who can take them?

At the third Women’s Weekend held last weekend at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka, experts from the fields of endocrinology and psychiatry openly discussed this burning topic. The panel The Truth About Obesity brought together prof. dr. sc. prim. Boran Uglešić, dr. med., Subspecialist in Biological Psychiatry from Uglešić Polyclinic, dr. med. Herman Mahečić, Subspecialist in Endocrinology & Diabetology, from UHC Zagreb, and Renata Končić Minea, singer and TV host, who shared her own experience fighting with extra pounds.

Obesity is not a matter of willpower, but a serious disease

The panelists immediately emphasized that it is time to stop viewing obesity as a matter of personal weakness and that very often “eat less and move more” doesn’t work for weight loss, and Dr. Uglešić clearly highlighted how obesity is too often discussed as a personal failure, while ignoring that it is a medical problem.

“Obesity is a disease and should be called that. It’s not a matter of willpower or laziness, but a complex disorder of impulses and how our brain functions. What’s the difference between a person who feels pleasure opening the refrigerator and a gambler entering a casino? Both are driven by emotions, lack of critical thinking, and inability to control. Food to many serves as an emotional support,” said Dr. Uglešić and added that many people have given up on themselves, which is especially significant in those with 40 or more kilograms of excess weight, who have lost motivation and a realistic perception of their own body.

Dr. Herman Mahečić emphasized that obesity often remains insufficiently diagnosed – not only because of patients, but also because of doctors who avoid making this diagnosis.

“Here, doctors often avoid giving patients a diagnosis of obesity. Instead, they get a questionable diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction. This is a huge problem because without a clear diagnosis there is no adequate treatment, and obesity is associated with more than 200 diseases and obesity is a diagnosis like any other,” warned Dr. Davorka Herman Mahečić.

Weight loss medications: Revolution or danger?

Lately, there has been increasing talk about weight loss injections, but the question arises as to who should actually use them and how effective they are. We received an answer to this question at the panel “The Truth About Obesity,” and Dr. Herman Mahečić explained the difference between medications and warned about their proper use.

“Ozempic is an excellent medication – but for diabetes, not for obesity. It is not registered for the treatment of obesity, but there are medications used specifically for weight loss like Saxenda and Wegovy, which will soon be available in Croatia. When using these medications, patients need less food because they reduce appetite. However, medications are not magic wands – people still need to change their eating habits. If we use them without changing our lifestyle, the kilograms will return,” explained Dr. Herman Mahečić, and Dr. Uglešić added that these medications are not for those who want to lose five kilograms before summer.

“This is not a trend, not a matter of aesthetics, but serious medical therapy for a serious problem. Obesity medications should be part of multidisciplinary treatment – along with psychological support, education, and medical supervision,” said Dr. Uglešić.

How safe are weight loss medications?

While new medications have helped many lose significant amounts of weight, many fear side effects about which numerous myths have already spread – from them causing cancer to what is called the “Ozempic face,” but Dr. Herman Mahečić emphasized that the most common side effects are digestive issues.

“Nausea, vomiting, and gastritis are the most common side effects, but that’s why doses are gradually increased to allow the body to adjust. What we often see on the internet – claims that the medications cause cancer – is simply not true. Unless you’re a rat, because such results have only been shown in them. In humans, there are none,” said Dr. Herman Mahečić and addressed the loss of muscle mass and skin changes, which some associate with the medications.

“If someone loses 30 kilograms, it’s normal for the skin to loosen. That’s not a problem with the medication, but with rapid weight loss in general. But here’s the key – the side effects of these medications are nothing compared to the consequences of obesity. And obesity is a disease from which people pass away,” warned Dr. Herman Mahečić.

Singer and TV host Renata Končić Minea openly shared her own story and the challenges she went through in trying to lose weight and maintain a healthy body weight. In two years, she lost 23 kilograms, exclusively by changing her diet and lifestyle.

“For years, I lied to myself. I watched my shows and constantly thought – bad hair, bad clothes, bad cameras. But the truth was that I wasn’t satisfied with myself. Then I stood in front of the mirror and said – that’s enough now. There is no magic wand, only changing habits,” Minea recounted and added how until her 30s she successfully maintained her weight, but later it became much harder.

“The first months were hell. I was shaking with desire for sweets. But gradually I learned to listen to my body. Food was no longer something that defined me. I don’t blame anyone anymore – I just took responsibility,” added Minea.

It’s time for a new approach

The panel brought a clear message – obesity is not just an aesthetic challenge, but a serious medical and psychological problem. The solution does not lie in short-term diets or quick methods, but in sustainable lifestyle changes, with professional medical support when needed.