Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are injectable medications that were first approved to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
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Eventually, researchers discovered that these medications also promote significant weight loss. GLP-1 drugs have helped people shed 10 to 20 percent or more of their body weight.
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Learning about all the possible benefits and risks of GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) will prepare you if you plan to use one of these medicines. Here, three people who have been taking them talk about the pros and cons, and what to know before taking GLP-1s for weight loss.
1. Cravings Will Be Curbed, Food Noise Will Go Silent
Kisha Pickford, DNP, struggled with her weight for years. As a nurse practitioner, she was very familiar with weight loss methods and had tried virtually all of them — including healthy eating and workout boot camps — without success. In 2021, she started taking a GLP-1 drug.
“What surprised me most was how quickly my relationship with food began to change,” she says of the medication’s effects. “I noticed reduced cravings and an ability to pause and truly listen to my body’s hunger cues, something I hadn’t experienced in years. It wasn’t just the number on the scale; it was the sense of control I felt returning.”
For Mary Joye, a mental health counselor, one of her struggles was dealing with “food noise” — constant, intrusive thoughts about food. She had grown up in a home where food was a big part of life, and it made thoughts of eating hard to suppress. Plus, years spent in the entertainment industry took a toll on Joye’s weight. “I had destroyed my metabolism by starving myself, and my body would hang onto every ounce of fat, literally for dear life,” she says. Once she reached her sixties, she found it just about impossible to lose the extra 30 pounds (lb) she’d gained. Zepbound quieted the food noise and helped Joye reach her goal weight.
2. Eating May Become Difficult
When the registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist Jennifer Lynn-Pullman, CDCES, RD, reached 200 lb, she knew that her weight and family history of type 2 diabetes was setting her up for a diabetes diagnosis. To help her lose the weight, Lynn-Pullman started taking Wegovy in May 2023.
The drug had a bigger-than-expected effect on her appetite. “I knew that semaglutide would help me fill up faster and decrease my portions, but what surprised me was how quickly I responded and just how little I was eating,” she says. “I could not finish a meal. I could barely eat half a sandwich. I had no desire to snack between meals. I did not want food in general.”
Eating less is helpful for weight loss, but after about two months on the drug, Lynn-Pullman realized that she wasn’t eating enough to meet her body’s needs. “I was barely hitting 800 calories, which isn’t enough calories for a child! [My] protein intake was not sufficient to meet the needs of the weight training I was doing,” she says.
Smaller, more frequent meals rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals is one way for people who take GLP-1 medicines to meet their daily calorie requirements and prevent nutrient deficiencies.
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3. There’s Stigma Around Using GLP-1s for Weight Loss
Jennifer Lynn-Pullman before and after taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss.Jennifer Lynn-PullmanJust as there is stigma surrounding overweight and obesity, GLP-1 drugs come with their own stigma. Some people who go on these medicines are shamed or accused of taking the “lazy” approach to losing weight, or of cheating — neither of which is accurate.
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“We would never tell a [person with diabetes] that they are cheating because they take insulin. If your body is sending you signals that are detrimental to your health and there are medications to correct it, then it’s not cheating. It is a benefit to health,” Joye says.
4. You’ll Have to Manage Side Effects
Digestive issues like nausea and diarrhea are some of the most common side effects of GLP-1 drugs, and one of the biggest reasons why people stop taking them.
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Learning which side effects to expect and how to manage them can help you avoid having to discontinue these drugs, says Lynn-Pullman, who recommends seeking advice from a doctor or registered dietitian who has experience working with people taking GLP-1 medicines.
Nausea and vomiting were the main side effects that Pickford and Lynn-Pullman experienced in the early days of treatment. They quickly discovered work-arounds. “I learned to eat smaller portions, chew thoroughly, and stay hydrated with electrolyte-balanced water or green tea,” Pickford says.
Lynn-Pullman relied on easy-to-digest foods like crackers, applesauce, and dry cereal to combat nausea. She also chewed ginger gum and wore an anti-nausea band around her wrist. Because the nausea hit soon after each GLP-1 injection, she switched to taking the medicine at night before bed. “I was sleeping for much of the time and didn’t notice the nausea,” she says.
5. Weight Loss Is Not the Only Benefit
Shedding excess weight is the most obvious effect of GLP-1 drugs, but they can also improve health in other ways. Research is showing their ability to help people with conditions like liver disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea.
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Lynn-Pullman has not only lost 60 lb and maintained that weight loss for over a year, but “my cholesterol is now normal and my A1C dropped, as well,” she says.
6. GLP-1 Drugs Aren’t a Quick Fix
GLP-1 medicines aren’t magic. To see results still requires some effort. “Don’t go into it expecting the medication to do all the work. Think of it as a tool, not a solution,” Pickford says. “Build healthy eating habits, stay active, and get support for the emotional side of weight loss.”
While significant weight loss is possible with a GLP-1 medicine, you’ll likely gain it back if you stop taking it without drastically changing your eating habits.
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“At first, I feared regaining weight if I ever had to stop it. When I later had to pause GLP-1 use for surgery, that fear became real,” Pickford says. “But it also pushed me to strengthen my nutrition habits and mindfulness practices so my success wouldn’t depend on the medication alone.”
The Takeaway
- GLP-1 agonists are medicines that help people with overweight or obesity lose 10 to 20 percent or more of their body weight.
- These drugs drown out “food noise,” help you feel fuller faster, and prevent overeating.
- Side effects like nausea and vomiting cause some people to stop taking their GLP-1 drug, but there are strategies to help make them more manageable.
- GLP-1 medications are meant to be taken long-term. Going off them prematurely could lead you to regain the weight you lost.
