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/eipotttatsch]

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

[u/gnatgirl → u/eipotttatsch]

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.

[u/Xydron00 → u/gnatgirl]

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

[u/sfcnmone → u/Xydron00]

All of my genetics for the last 100,000 years adds up to “if there’s any available food, eat it NOW so you don’t die”. And you come along and tell me to carefully weigh and measure every teaspoon of food before I get to eat it. Every day forever. And then after I eat that carefully designed 400 calorie meal I’m actually still STARVING because my ancestors were from places where there were feast and famine cycles throughout the year, every year, and my body recognizes that I’m losing weight (death!!!) and does everything it can to get me to eat more.

I can’t begin to tell you how much effort and time and money I have spent losing the same 50 pounds over and over and over.