Take Control of Your Health: What to Know About GLP-1 Medications
Source: Antoni Shkraba Studio
GLP-1 medications are everywhere right now — in the news, on social media, and in conversations at the doctor's office. The wave of advertising and celebrity buzz around these drugs can make it hard to separate facts from hype. Our hope is that this guide helps you feel more confident asking questions, understanding your options, and making decisions that are truly right for you.
What is a GLP-1 medication?
Your body naturally makes a hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). This hormone helps control your blood sugar and tells your brain when you’re full.1,2 When you take a GLP-1 medication, a few things happen:
Your pancreas makes more insulin, which helps lower blood sugar
Your stomach slows down how fast it empties, so you feel fuller longer
Your brain gets signals that reduce hunger
These medications have been shown to help people lose significant amounts of weight, which is why they have received so much attention. Brand names you may have heard include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
What are the side effects?
Like all medications, GLP-1 drugs come with risks. The ads don’t always make this clear.
Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, bloating, and diarrhea.3 These happen because the medication slows digestion. More serious side effects that have been reported include:3
Muscle loss - losing muscle mass along with fat
Stomach paralysis (gastroparesis) - when the stomach stops moving food properly
Pancreatitis - painful swelling of the pancreas
Bowel obstructions - dangerous blockages in the intestines
This does not mean that GLP-1 medications are bad or that you should avoid them. For many people, the benefits are real and meaningful. Weight is one health factor among many, and you deserve to make medical decisions based on your full picture of health - not social pressure.
What the ads leave out
Studies of GLP-1 ads found they lean heavily on words like “transformation” and “confidence”, use FDA approval to build trust, and rarely give balanced information about side effects.2 Many ads connect thinness with happiness and self-worth - messaging that can be harmful for people with a difficult relationship with their body or food.1,2
It’s also worth knowing that much of the research on these drugs has been funded by the pharmaceutical companies that make them.3 This doesn’t mean that the research is wrong, but it does mean that independent, long-term studies are still needed.
Before you decide
If you're thinking about GLP-1 medications, here are some questions that can help you have a better conversation with your healthcare provider:
Is this medication appropriate for my specific health situation?
What are the most common side effects I should watch for?
Are there any mental health risks I should know about?
How long would I need to take this medication?
What happens if I stop taking it?
Are there other treatments or approaches I should consider first?
Health decisions are deeply personal, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer here. What matters most is that you feel informed, not pressured. Knowing the facts, asking the right questions, and working with a doctor you trust matters far more than any trend. Trust that the best choice is the one made with your whole self in mind.
Samantha Patterson, CHES®, is a certified Health Education Specialist and summa cum laude graduate from Arizona State University’s College of Health Solutions. She shares approachable, evidence-based guidance for building sustainable health habits that are realistic, flexible, and supportive of everyday life.
1 Dang, A. B., Portingale, J., & Won, Y. Q. (2025). Beyond weight loss: GLP-1 usage and appetite regulation in the context of eating disorders and psychosocial processes. Nutrients, 17(23), 3735. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233735
2 Rad, J., & Melendez-Torres, G. J. (2025). Critical discourse analysis of social media advertisements for GLP-1 receptor agonist weight loss drugs: implications for public perceptions and health communication. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 2996. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-24197-8
3 Wang, G., Rahim, E., Bari, S., Haque, H., Rahim, F. O., & Palakodeti, S. (2024). Public health responsibilities in the era of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30(6), 777–779. https://doi.org/10.1097/phh.0000000000002039
