What is a GLP-1?
No doubt you’ve heard the term “GLP” or “GLP-1” in connection with weight loss. But what exactly is a GLP-1? And why are drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, Trulicity, Mounjaro, and a whole host of other compounded GLP-1 drugs in the news so much right now?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, which is a hormone that is produced naturally in the gut after eating. It helps to regulate blood sugar through the stimulation of insulin production, and also slows digestion. What has emerged and become so popular as of late are GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of drugs that helps to control insulin and blood glucose levels, and also promotes a feeling of satiety, mimicking the body’s natural process.
Originally, GLP-1 drugs were approved by the FDA for use in Type 2 Diabetes treatment. GLP-1 drugs work by lowering blood sugar only when it’s high, which is different from insulin, which lowers blood sugar regardless of glucose levels. This makes GLP-1 drugs a safer option for treating diabetes. Additionally, GLP-1 drugs reduce the development of heart-related issues, which is important, as Type 2 Diabetes raises the risk of heart disease.
As GLP-1s were prescribed to support the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and studied more, weight loss was a common side effect, often 15-20% of body weight, along with improved blood sugar control. In our society, diet culture has a strong hold on the mainstream, prioritizing thinness over anything else, and equating people in smaller bodies with success, health, and moral value. This is something we work hard against at Namaste Nourished, and promote that the size of someone’s body does not equate health or moral superiority. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, Elon Musk, and Meghan Trainor started taking GLP-1s for weight loss, often discussing their use of the drugs publicly. This popularization of the drugs being used for weight loss sparked widespread use. From 2018 to 2023, spending on GLP-1s increased by more than 500%, and a study in 2025 found that 12% of Americans have used GLP-1 drugs for the purposes of weight loss.
While lowered heart disease risk in patients with diabetes and weight loss are side effects from taking GLP-1 drugs, there are other side effects that have caused some patients to be unable to take the drugs. These include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal discomfort, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and increased heart rate. While these drugs are fairly new to the market, there are studies on possible long-term side effects to the kidneys, gallbladder problems, thyroid tumors, muscle loss, and pancreatitis.
At Namaste Nourished, we focus on rejecting diet culture and operating from a Health at Every Size® perspective, so the new focus that GLP-1 drugs and a new emphasis on thinness raises another concern for us, beyond the physical side effects. GLP-1 drugs have been shown to help quiet the food noise, as the gastric emptying is delayed, and people no longer are constantly thinking about food. In our work as eating disorder dietitians, this is a very common symptom we see in eating disorders. A hyper-fixation on food, or “food noise,” is often a result of restriction. Rather than muting it, as these drugs do, we work with our patients to help them increase satisfaction in their food and their life, and with dedication, the food noise can quiet on its own. We also know that bodies change over the course of a lifetime- from hormones or medications or how your individual body adapts to life. Change in body shape is not a good nor a bad thing. It’s what our bodies were designed to do through the course of a lifetime, and trusting your body to adapt as it needs to in order to keep you healthy and safe is one tenet we feel strongly about.
There are obviously risks, benefits, and drawbacks to GLP-1s. If you are considering them, or want to learn more about them, we recommend talking to your medical providers. This can be your primary care doctor or our team of registered dietitians. The team at Namaste Nourished are experts in practicing from a weight-inclusive space, and we’d be happy to have a conversation with you or help you in your journey to feel your best. We also believe in body autonomy, so we want to help you figure out what works best for you and we can support you along the way. Reach out to us today to continue the discussion and get the support you need.
References
Fischer, J. (2025, April 14). How does Ozempic work? Understanding GLP-1s for diabetes, weight loss, and beyond. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/how-does-ozempic-work-understanding-glp-1s-for-diabetes-weight-loss-and-beyond
Franciscan Health. (2025, February 13). Beyond Weight Loss: 7 Ways GLP-1 Drugs May Improve Your Health. Franciscan Health. https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/7-ways-glp-1-drugs-may-help-your-health
MacMillan, C. (2026, April 10). GLP-1 Weight-Loss Pills: What You Need to Know. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/glp-1-weight-loss-pills-what-you-need-to-know
O’Reilly, K. (2025, August 27). Spending on GLP-1s has grown dramatically. Here are the details. American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/behavioral-health/spending-glp-1s-has-grown-dramatically-here-are-details
RAND. (2025, August 6). Nearly 12 Percent of Americans Have Used GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs; Medications Are Most Used by Women Aged 50 to 64. RAND. https://www.rand.org/news/press/2025/08/nearly-12-percent-of-americans-have-used-glp-1-weight.html
The University of Chicago Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care. (2024, June 17). Research shows GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are effective but come with complex concerns. The University of Chicago Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care. https://anesthesia.uchicago.edu/dr-yuan-senior-author-bmj-review-and-meta-analysis-glp1-agonists
US Food & Drug Administration. (2026, February 4). FDA’s Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss. US Food & Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss
Yehya, N. (2025, November). GLP-1 and health: Beyond weight loss in the Ozempic era. UCDavis Health. https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/health-wellness/glp-1-and-health-beyond-weight-loss-in-the-ozempic-era/2025/11