Weight loss is a journey, and along this road, you’ll hear all kinds of terms. Refer to this weight loss glossary whenever you’re not quite sure what something means. This page is ever-evolving, so if you’d like me to add a definition, get in touch!
Body mass index (BMI) is calculated with a formula to determine your percentage of body fat. A high BMI can indicate weight-related health problems. However, it’s a blunt tool since not every overweight person is unhealthy. Use your BMI in combination with other metrics to determine your overall health.
Beyond-the-scale celebration: It’s important to embrace all the good aspects of weight loss and not just when your scale reflects a change. (Same as NSV: non-scale victory.)
Special compounding pharmacies make compound drugs for specific patient needs. These drugs are not FDA-approved. Regarding GLP-1 weight loss medications, compounding pharmacies can make any drugs currently on the FDA’s official shortage list.
Food noise is when you constantly think about food, plan your next meal, or obsess over the next time you’ll get to eat.
Alpha cells in the pancreas secrete the hormone glucagon. This agonist receptor stimulates the liver, which in turn produces insulin. GCGR is the third receptor agonist (in addition to GLP-1 and GIP) in retatrutide.
Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (formerly gastric inhibitory polypeptide) stimulates insulin production. Your body secretes this molecule. It’s also in medication, such as tirzepatide (Zepbound and Mounjaro).
Glucagon-like peptide-1 incretin hormone promotes insulin secretion and slows gastric emptying so you feel full longer. Your body makes GLP-1 and its the cornerstone of medications such as tirzepatide (Zepbound and Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy and Ozempic).
Liraglutide, made by Novo Nordisk, was one of the first GLP-1 medications. It was FDA-approved in 2010 to treat diabetes under the brand Victoza and in December 2014 under the name Saxenda to treat obesity. Victoza and Saxenda are the exact same drug but approved for different uses.
NSV means “non-scale victory.” It’s the fantastic feeling you get when something indicates that your weight loss efforts are worth it. For example, you can fit into a smaller size of jeans, or you can sit comfortably in a football stadium seat that used to be tight. It’s something other than a number on the scale that confirms your weight loss progress. It’s the same as BTSC (beyond-the-scale celebration).
Developed by Eli Lilly, retatrutide is the first triple-receptor agonist drug for weight loss. As of May 2024, it’s in phase 3 clinical trials. Here’s everything you need to know about retatrutide.
Semaglutide, developed by Novo Nordisk, is a GLP-1 medication. It was FDA-approved in 2017 under the brand Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes. In 2021, it was approved under the name Wegovy to treat obesity. Ozempoic and Wegovy are the exact same drug but are approved to treat different diseases.
Tirzepatide, developed by Eli Lilly, is a dual-receptor agonist consisting of GLP-1 and GIP. It was first approved as Mounjaro to treat type 2 diabetes. In late 2023, the FDA approved tirzepatide under the Zepbound brand to treat obesity. Mounjaro and Zepbound are the exact same drug but approved for different uses.
This page is ever-evolving, so if you’d like me to add a definition, get in touch or post on the Shots to Shed Pounds Facebook page!
Andrea M. Rotondo is a consumer advocate for GLP-1 weight loss medications. Her experiences taking Zepbound (tirzepatide) are the inspiration for Shots to Shed Pounds. For the past 30+ years, she’s written and edited content for major brands, such as Ancestry.com, Cruise Critic, TripAdvisor, and The Points Guy. Her best advice? “Losing weight safely takes time. Embrace the calendar and celebrate every incremental success!”
