You
can call it Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus but these GLP-1 receptor agonists
(GLP-1RA) aren’t just Hollywood’s weight loss drugs! They’re one of the most
powerful medical breakthroughs in decades but reducing them to just a “weight
loss drug” misses the bigger story. I can see why most individuals would think
this, after all it’s the main thing being marketed. From celebrities like
Serena Williams and Charles Barkley on RO commercials, to Lizzo, Oprah and Elon
Musk weighing in, GLP-1RA have become synonymous with weight loss and this
perception risks fueling stigma against people who rely on them for serious
health conditions.
What are GLP-1 Receptor Agonists?
 |
This diagram shows how GLP-1 works
throughout the body. it helps the pancreas release insulin and glucagon, lowers the production of glucose in the liver, and helps reduce
food intake and increase satiety when it acts on the brain (6). |
What exactly are GLP-1RA? Let’s break it down. Our body naturally produces a hormone, Glucagon- Like- Peptide-1 (GLP-1) at the arrival of food in the small intestine (6). A receptor is a protein that is on the inside or the surface of a cell that waits for a specific molecule to trigger an effect within the cell. These specific molecules are agonists that bind to the receptor (2). Agonists can be either natural hormones or drugs. Think of it like a house key (the natural hormone) and the drug is like a copy you made for your kids. It’s not the original but it still unlocks the door. So GLP-1RA are synthetic versions of the natural GLP-1 hormone but engineered to last much longer than natural GLP-1 like your kids keeping the door open longer.
Diabetes: The Bigger Picture
According
to the CDC, more than 38 million Americans (about 1 in 10) have diabetes with
90-95% having type 2 (8). In type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells resist insulin and
the pancreas overproduces it. This leads to more glucose being stored as fat.
 |
| This is a visual from EverydayHealth.com that illustrates the cycle of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. The continuation of this cycle is what leads to weight gain (5). GLP-1RAs help prevent this (2). |
From Pop Culture to Real Life
Many
people, like me, weren’t aware of the existence of these GLP-1RA. I only heard
of them last year when rapper
Drake was making fun of rapper Rick Ross claiming Ozempic has a side effect of
jealousy during their rap beef. When I didn’t understand the line initially, I
did my research and learned that Rick Ross once weighed over 400lbs and used
Ozempic to lose a significant portion of that weight. I didn’t know much about
these drugs at first only the surface level information about their weight loss
benefits. One of my coworkers, Miranda, told me about her reasonings and all
the things she has benefited from being on semaglutide (the active ingredient
in Ozempic and Wegovy) compounded with Vitamin B12. When I interviewed Miranda,
she said she started taking this medication because she had reached her highest
weight ever and experienced fatigue, shortness of breath, and lack of
endurance. She couldn’t do the things she enjoyed like playing with her nieces
and nephews. Between May and September 2024 Miranda tried a caloric deficit and
exercising regimen but unfortunately failed to see consistent results. It’s
been a year now since starting her journey with a GLP-1RA. She has lost over
70lbs so far and now has an improved and normal BMI. She has had a positive
experience so far, from improved bloodwork to improved joint pain and swelling
since GLP-1s may help in decreasing inflammation. Miranda says she has also
decreased her risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
Conclusions
Weight
loss has come a long way, and some people just can’t lose weight with diet and
exercise alone. While some may simply prefer the traditional method it is
ultimately a personal choice. Maybe it’s not just about lowering the number
on the scale, but about the individual’s health, energy, and showing up for
their family. All in all, GLP-1RA didn’t start out as weight loss drugs, this
just happened to be a great side effect of them. Their broader impact on health
and quality of life is what is making them some of the biggest medical
breakthroughs in our time.
By Said Zakaria, a Master's of Medical Science student at the University of Kentucky
Resources
1. Amylin Pharma, Inc., and Eli Lilly and Company. “Amylin and Lilly Announce FDA Approval of Byetta (Exenatide).” Amylin and Lilly Investor News Releases, 28 Apr. 2005, https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amylin-and-lilly-announce- fda-approval-byettatm-exenatide.
2. Baggio, Laurie L., and Daniel J.
Drucker. “Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptors in the Brain: Controlling Food
Intake and Body Weight.” Journal of Clinical Investigation, vol. 124, no. 10,
Sept. 2014, pp. 4223–26. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci78371.
3. Diabetes in America: Prevalence,
Statistics, and Economic Impact. https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics/about-diabetes.
4. GLP-1R and Diabetes. bpsbioscience.com/glp-1r-diabetes#ref6.
5. Higuera, Valencia. “What Is Insulin
Resistance? Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention.”
EverydayHealth.com, 17 Feb. 2023, www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/insulin-resistance-causes-symptoms- diagnosis-consequences.
6. Muskiet, Marcel H. A., et al. “GLP-1
and the Kidney: From Physiology to Pharmacology and Outcomes in Diabetes.”
Nature Reviews Nephrology, vol. 13, no. 10, Sept. 2017, pp. 605–28. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2017.123.
7. Professional, Cleveland Clinic Medical.
“GLP-1 Agonists.” Cleveland Clinic, 30 June 2025, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists.
8. “Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes, 15 May
2024, www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/about-type-2- diabetes.html.
9. View of the Origins of Type 2 Diabetes
Medications | British Journal of Diabetes. https://bjd-abcd.com/index.php/bjd/article/view/1003/1239?utm_
GLP-1 receptor agonists are definitely a huge breakthrough in helping those with diabetes and obesity lead healthier lives. I have read of some nasty side effects that people taking it for purely cosmetic reasons have experienced, and I would be interested to know what the incidence of side effect occurrence is. I also know someone who started using a GLP-1RA in order to get in better shape for competing in horse shows, and they have told me it has helped them a lot. I think combined with the whole body benefits of exercise GLP-1RAs will help a lot of people not only be healthier physiologically but feel healthier as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Said,
ReplyDeleteThis was a very well written blog. GLP-1 receptor agonists have come a long way from where they started. I too agree that GLP-1 receptor agonists are marketed in a way where most people see these "weight-loss drugs", although they can do much more. I like how you chose to interview your coworker about her experience with semaglutide. Working in the pharmacy, I have learned the benefits of GLP-1RA and find it a pretty fascinating topic.
Said,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this blog post, it feels especially relevant given today’s social conversations. A major topic on social media right now is speculation about which celebrities are using GLP-1 receptor agonists. I thought your point was interesting about how these drugs were originally developed to address America’s diabetes problem, but the narrative has now shifted toward weight loss. I also constantly see ads for “knock-off” versions from companies like Ro or Hers, often marketed as affordable and not requiring insurance. It makes me wonder what the pharmacological differences are between these versions and well-known brands like Ozempic or Wegovy, and what ethical or safety concerns might arise for consumers who don’t fully consider the risks.
Hi Said,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. This class of drug has become such a huge part of the American zeitgeist in the last year or two. Everyone knows the term, but few actually know what they do. You did a great job illustrating their multitude of potential uses, especially those beyond weight loss. My mom started taking a GLP-1RA earlier this year. It was mainly for weight loss, but helped her in other areas as well. You mentioning your coworker really resonated with me as someone who knows someone close to them with this experience.
Hi Said!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog post as this is a very prevalent topic in our media today. I like that you discussed how GLP-1RA receptor agonists have a lot more benefits to them than just weight loss. With my mother being a pharmacist, she has talked to me about some of the issues with this marketing -- for example, people who actually need it for diabetes are struggling to afford it due to high demands for people using it as a weight loss drug. I also like that you had a personal anecdote about someone who has used it and has experienced many of the positive benefits of the GLP-1RA agonist.
Hi Said!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great overview of GLP-1's! I especially liked how you introduced the more basic concepts of how GLP-1's work, as I find a drug's unique mechanism of action its most interesting property! I really liked the metaphor for an endogenous ligand being like an original house key for a lock (receptor), while the drug is a copy of the house key. That was a great explanation, but also simple and straightforward. You talked a lot about the benefits of these drugs and their use in treating a wide range of typically "weight-associated" pathologies. I think it is important to note that while these drugs can be great options for managing weight, treating diabetes or heart disease, there are also many adverse effects like gastroparesis. I often think about the social aspects of these medications especially because their popularity was driven by celebrity weight loss stories. Do you think there are issues with a lack of access to these drugs due to its high cost and demand? Do you think the marketing of this drug as a "cure" for obesity might affect the prevalence of psychological disorders like body dysmorphia? Overall, this was great piece - good job!!
Said,
ReplyDeleteI found your post to be very informative and interesting! While shadowing physicians, I have been able to see the positive effect of GLP-1s for patients looking to lose weight and/or manage their diabetes. Something I have continued to see with the rising popularity of these drugs is the difficulty patients have getting coverage by insurance. Insurance companies make patients jump through so many hurdles, like proving medications or other weight loss methods fail, before agreeing to cover the medication. With GLP-1s being prescribed more often, I think it would be interesting to see how these standards change, especially with the possible increased uses for treatments of conditions like sleep apnea or neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Hi Said,
ReplyDeleteYour post was very informative about GLP-1s and I love both your pop culture references as well as the personal experience of knowing someone on this drug. I also, just in recent years, learned about this drug and was shocked to hear it was first FDA approved in 2005. I personally know many people on this drug and it has done wonders for them but I was not aware of the many other benefits that can come from this drug, not just diabetes management and weight loss. I am interested in why they pair it with vitamin B12 as well as the potential negative side effects that can come from using this drug. Something I do know about this drug that I find interesting is that when patients go in for surgery they have to go off of this drug at least a two weeks in advance. I worked in an oral surgery office and patient prep includes not eating/drinking for 6 hours pre-op because they do not want food in the patients stomach for the purpose of effects with anesthesia. This drug delays gastric emptying which could cause aspiration on the contents still in the stomach even if they have fasted for the 6 hours.
Said,
ReplyDeleteI found your post very informative, interesting, and important given the current use of GLP-1s in our society. I first heard about this drug being used for weight loss about a year ago, and I completely agree with you on how useful it is for people that struggle with weight loss using diets and exercise, but I also think that the use of GLP-1s for this cause is probably affecting people with diabetes that actually need it to live on a daily basis. I shadowed a neurologist that treats MS and he frequently gives his patients GLP-1s to treat obesity because they can have a better quality of life living with MS when they are not overweight, but one of the biggest risks of this drug is blindness which leads me to think that people are not really thinking about the side effects it can have. I'm interested in seeing what happens in the future regarding the use of GLP-1s to treat different conditions.
Said,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is very well written and informative. I heard about the use of GLP-1RA the exact same way! Since then I see it everywhere and there are so many more people who use it than you would think. I find this blog to be beneficial to informing us about GLP-1RA's considering the current use and popular exposure of them in the media. I agree with your statement that it helps people to be happier and show up for their family. I have had a personal experience with his with my father. He had been so miserable the last few yeas and very negative in every aspect and it made him unbearable to be around, he started on a GLP-1RA and since he started losing weight he has been more positive and is willing to do more. He is visiting me at college for the first time in over a year because he has the motivation too now. I enjoyed learning more about his medication through this blog.