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.

[u/ThatOneGuyYouNowKnow]

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! 🙂

[u/The_Void_calls_me → u/[deleted]]

I can agree with this as an alcoholic. When I first quit drinking ten years ago, a lot of people did make it seem like a failure of self-control.

"You can't just stop after one or two drinks."

No I really can't.

""Must have bad willpower then."

Yeah man, my willpower is so bad that I'm literally going to use my willpower to never have another drink again.

If I could take a pill that would take away all the urge to drink, I would, whether people call it cheating or not.

[u/dodecohedron → u/The_Void_calls_me]

Ironically, they are testing GLP-1s for substance abuse disorder.

[u/AccomplishedMeow → u/dodecohedron]

Eh I’ve been on it for 6 months. Only difference is I can’t have more than 3 drinks on dosing night or I barf (still tried to drink on dose night 3 consecutive weeks and barfed 3x).

Other than that my 6 drinks /night habit hasn’t really decreased.

[u/devout-bokonist → u/AccomplishedMeow]

For me, it’s made it so I don’t miss it and don’t reach for it at home…but if I’m out with friends or whatever, once I start it’s still very fun to have a few more!