The Truth Behind the GLP-1 Craze: More Than a Quick Fix
Hello and Happy March!
In the Northern Hemisphere, this month ushers in spring – a season of warming temperatures, more sunshine, and many people’s increasing desire to get in shape ahead of the summer. Some folks may focus on making lifestyle changes, with a renewed interest in dieting, exercise, and weight loss medications.
Raising this topic may primarily make you think of Ozempic® (semaglutide), an injectable medication that has garnered lots of attention in the media and among healthcare providers due to its quick weight loss effects. Ozempic® belongs to a class of pharmaceutical drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, and although Ozempic® is indicated for the treatment of diabetes, there are GLP-1s specifically FDA-approved for the treatment of obesity, including Wegovy® (semaglutide) and Zepbound™ (tirzepatide), both supported by rigorous clinical trials.
GLP-1s impact gastrointestinal hormones to help slow digestion and suppress appetite, thereby promoting satiety, reduced caloric intake, and, ultimately, weight loss.
While weight loss medications are soaring in popularity, they're sparking mixed reactions as well. GLP-1 prescriptions for weight loss have seen an exponential rise over recent years, with over 5 million prescriptions written in 2022—a 2000% increase since 2019. In the mainstream media, we’ve seen celebrities, like Oprah, disclose that they’ve been taking weight loss medication, triggering much criticism over partnerships with various lifestyle brands. In specialty clinics around the country, we’ve also seen a rise in compounded weight loss drugs that have not been FDA-approved and have been associated with increased health risks.
But do weight loss drugs deserve a bad rap?
Not always. In fact, taking weight loss medications, such as GLP-1s, can be positively life-changing for many people living with obesity. In clinical trials, participants experienced clinically significant weight loss – generally defined as losing ≥5% of baseline weight – after extended use of these medications:
Wegovy® (semaglutide) led to meaningful weight loss over 68 weeks (~1.3 years)
Zepbound™ (tirzepatide) showed significant results over 72 weeks (~1.4 years)
These outcomes are important because this level of weight loss is typically associated with improvements in cardiometabolic health, including reduced blood pressure and cholesterol.
Nevertheless, diet and physical activity are still important factors in the pursuit of weight loss for folks living with obesity. GLP-1s are actually most effective for weight loss if coupled with proper nutrition and exercise. Strength training and cardiovascular exercise have also shown to help with retaining muscle mass and reducing weight regain after stopping GLP-1 medications. However, it’s important to note that weight loss medications are not suitable for everyone – medical history, clinical eligibility, insurance coverage and cost are key considerations in deciding whether taking a GLP-1 is a good idea.
The best approach on your weight loss journey always includes finding the right balance with diet and physical activity, regardless if you’re taking weight loss medication and especially if you recently stopped taking it.
Looking for Personalized Support?
If you join my Nutrition and Wellbeing Program for Women, I’ll help you build the right nutrition and exercise routine to support your individual health goals—whether you're exploring GLP-1s or focusing on lifestyle change.
You'll receive:
One-on-one virtual coaching
Weekly check-ins
Customized meal planning
Judgment-free support to help you build consistency and confidence
