Dr. Joseph Maroon Discusses New Weight Loss Medications in the Most Recent Faith & Works Article

2023 – In the most recent Faith & Works Magazine, published by St. Barnabas Health System, Neurosurgeon and Wellness Expert, Dr. Joseph Maroon discusses the “Pros and Cons” that are associated with the latest prescription weight loss drugs.  In the article, Dr. Maroon discusses the potential complications, cost and also positive effects of reducing obesity risk.  See some excerpts below.

Since the approval of Wegovy®, a drumbeat of news stories has been written about the weight loss “miracles” associated with this drug. This has caused an increasing shortage of the medication. Have we now entered a world where we can have our cake and eat it too? The answer is complicated and not as easy as hoped. Both medications have had major GI side effects. The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation. These issues are not unexpected since semaglutide mimics natural hormones that can result in slower stomach-emptying making you feel full longer and reducing your appetite. The biggest downside to these medications is that even though you may lose weight on the drug, most people will regain much of that weight, or all of it, back within a few months, if they discontinue the drug. This is because the drug is not a cure.

Read the entire article HERE Page 9.

Background

Since 2015, Dr. Maroon has advised St. Barnabas Health System on Brain Health and Wellness. Dr. Maroon has contributed frequently to  Faith & Work, a quarterly publication of St. Barnabas Charities. St. Barnabas Health System is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides a wide range of healthcare services to residents of Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler counties in Pennsylvania. The system includes three hospitals, two skilled nursing facilities, a retirement community, and a home health agency.

The St. Barnabas Health System Gibsonia campus is located in Gibsonia, PA, and includes the following:

  • The Village: A retirement community that offers independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care.
  • St. Barnabas Washington Place: A medical office building that houses a variety of specialty physicians and services.
  • St. Barnabas Arbors: A memory care facility that provides specialized care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

The system is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and has been recognized for its excellence in care by several organizations, including the National Quality Measures Program (NQMP) and the Healthgrades Quality Outcomes Database.