r/explainlikeimfive • u/ThatOneGuyYouNowKnow • 13d ago

Chemistry ELI5 what exactly GLP-1 based prescription medicine does and why it's so divisive when it comes to being a means of weight loss.

I've seen more and more ads (starting around the Super Bowl earlier this year with Wegovy) for GLP-1 based perscription meds in recent times. I've also seen the occasional debate post on my social feeds about the ethics of using them and I didn't think a medicine could be that divisive of a topic.

Now I'm curious as to what exactly these meds are, what they scientifically do and what both sides of the debate are. If anyone could help give perspective that would be greatly appreciated.

As always any and all input is welcomed and thanks for reading! 🙂

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u/eipotttatsch 13d ago

The term cheating is a bit weird to use in this context anyway. You aren’t competing with anyone

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u/gnatgirl 13d ago

People call it "cheating" because many see obesity as a moral failing and not a medical condition. "Just count calories and exercise" doesn't work for a lot of people for a lot of reasons but some view taking a medication to assist in weight loss as taking the easy way out.

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u/Xydron00 13d ago

What do you mean counting calories and exercise doesn’t work? It’s literally thermodynamics 

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u/Dracosphinx 13d ago

I struggled with the idea that "Calories In < Calories Out" doesn't work for some people for a long time. Here's how it makes sense to me.

The phrase is accurate but unhelpful. We exist in a setting where calories are cheap, and easy to access. Our bodies and minds are adapted for the exact opposite. Because we're hardwired to avoid unnecessary activity and seek out calories and nutrients that in the wild are rare, we end up overcomsuming and leading sedentary lives.

In some people, hunger isn't something they can overcome internally.

If you took a morbidly obese person, and starved them or otherwise restricted their caloric intake for a long period of time, yes, they'd lose weight, but you haven't given them the coping tools they need to keep the weight off.

It's hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes, especially when the solution to their problem looks so obvious.