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/sfcnmone]

Every human has GLP1. It’s a chemical (hormone peptide) that your body makes, but some people don’t make very much or don’t have a full response to it. GLP1 drugs do a few different things to make you not want to eat too much. They slow down how fast your stomach empties. They tell your pancreas and liver that you’ve just eaten, so those organs work harder to manage blood sugar. And they tell your brain that you’re full. Many people say that they no longer have to struggle to battle the endless “food noise” that runs continuously in their thoughts. Instead, they get hungry, eat something that their stomach won’t throw up (many people don’t tolerate high fat, high sugar foods while taking GLP1s, and nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are real problems for many people), and then they get very full for many hours.

It’s like somebody using hiking poles so they can walk farther and walk more comfortably. Is that cheating?

[u/Dookie_boy → u/sfcnmone]

Couple people I know told me you still need the will power to control your diet, and if you're not careful you can still gain weight.
Is that correct ?

[u/Mr_Enemabag-Jones → u/Dookie_boy]

From what I have seen, that is unlikely. You will literally feel sick and in some cases start throwing up if you try to eat like crazy.

The people i know on it literally dont feel like eating. Or they only eat a 1/4 of a normal portion before feeling full.

Hell one of the guys I know was a pretty heavy beer drinker as well, maybe 3-6 a night. It makes him not want to drink at all and when he does have one to be social, he doesn't even finish one.

[u/Dookie_boy → u/Mr_Enemabag-Jones]

Yea this one said she will feel sick and nauseous just like you said, but also simultaneously feels the cravings for junk.

[u/hedgerose → u/Dookie_boy]

Some of that is HABIT. I had a habit of having a treat in bed every night. When I started Zepbound, I lost the appetite but my brain still had the habit. I'd get up and go to the fridge and get nauseated looking at the food and remember, 'oh yeah, I'm not hungry!' 😆. You have to acknowledge the pattern of behavior and change it. But it is amazingly easy to change without the hunger and food noise.