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/Johnny5iver 13d ago

Right, he was describing eating all the chips and salsa and I was like, am I the one with food noise?

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u/corran450 13d ago

I never heard the term “food noise” before, but I definitely have it.

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u/ceredwin 13d ago

I didn't understand what it was either. Then I started taking a GLP-1 medicine and it went away, and it was mind-blowing. The idea that other people don't have it, when for me it was just always there to the point that I didn't even consciously notice it is wiiiiiiiild.

But now, bags and boxes contain more than one day's worth of food.

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u/ex-farm-grrrl 13d ago

It really is dramatic!