India, July 11 -- Up until the launch of his book, Dr Ambrish Mithal was an endocrinologist. Once he turned author, however, his focus shifted from being a "diabetes doctor" to an expert on weight loss. His new book, The Weight Loss Revolution, touches on what GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are, the red flags and benefits and who should keep away. We caught up with Dr Mithal to decode these questions and more for those looking to lead a healthier life. Excerpts: Q: Ozempic, Mounjaro - are these drugs for weight loss or diabetes control? Do they prevent diabetes?GLP-1 were developed for diabetes - Semaglutide can reduce the risk by 60%. But one of their other functions is to tell us when to stop eating. As 15% weight loss can be achieved with GLP-1, as against 4-5 % that resulted from previously available drugs like Metformin. So, this dramatic effect caught the public imagination. Q: Are these injectable or the pop-a-pill variety? There are oral pills, but these are less effective. A weekly injection is more effective, but we may see more potent oral drugs in the future. Q: Can these be bought over-the-counter? Not at all. The government has labelled them as prescription drugs. Therefore, they have to be prescribed by a recognised doctor and closely monitored. Otherwise, these medications could lead to a significant amount of problems. Q: What are the dangers of using these drugs? The temptation to use these drugs for weight loss or drop a size rather than treating obesity is a danger since the risk-to-benefit ratio may not be great. People treat obesity as a cosmetic disorder and endocrinologists see it as a disease - that is where the mismatch is. Q: What are some adverse effects? Any drug could have potential side effects, so there is no way anyone can say there are no side effects. We're still learning, but I don't think anything dangerous will emerge, because we have been using this class of drugs for 20 years. Q: Does weight gain recur once you stop your dose? These drugs work as long as you use them. Whenever you lose weight, we lose muscle; if you lose 15kg, then muscle loss could be as high as 4kg. The problem is, when the weight comes back, it is only fat because the muscle is gone. Q: How long should one take these drugs? One has to be prepared to take this medication for one to two years. It is not a three-month course. If you have responded well, it could be tapered off, but those who have severe obesity may have to remain on some doses forever. Q: Are current costs prohibitive? Yes, but I don't see that as a deterrent. It happens with every drug, but the prices will crash; there is enough historical evidence to substantiate this. Q: Is there a silver lining? This field is just opening up. Down the line, there will be many options which will not be intrusive or difficult to use....