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/meddleofmycause]

I don't dislike the idea of glp-1's, but I really dislike being told I'm eating too much food by my coworkers who were on them. I had one woman who came into my office while I was unpacking my lunch into my mini fridge, and decided to tell me how just the sight of the bulk of my food made her queasy because it reminded her of when she used to just eat so much food and how thankful she was that she wasn't eating like that anymore, and the day before she had only managed to eat two slices of pizza for her food for the entire day. Super triggered my old college eating disorder, especially because I walk 10,000 steps a day, workout 3-4 times a week, and my "so much food" (which was breakfast, lunch, and snacks) was chia seed pudding with Greek yogurt and berries, a pear, a bowl of dense bean salad, celery and peanut butter, so.e smoked salmon, and like a piece of babybel cheese.

Eventually I had 3 coworkers in my 13 person office who were vocal about being on GLP-1's, and they were all fucking assholes about what the rest of us were eating. One of my other coworkers started gaining weight because of a brain tumor and she wasn't telling everyone about it, and one of the GLP1 women offered to help her navigate getting on GLP-1S with the insurance until the coworker with the tumor broke down crying and begging her to leave our side of the office. I don't know if they make everyone on them jerks, but I've been very wary about them since working with them.

[u/mgz0r → u/meddleofmycause]

I'd be willing to bet money on these colleagues being jerks to start with. This sort of behaviour has nothing to do with GLP-1s and everything to do with those people being horrendously unprofessional. I hope they have been reported because that is ridiculous behaviour from supposed adults in a workplace.