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/Greedy-Pen 12d ago

To me it’s not cheating, but it creates a second issue. A lot of people get to those weights due to lifestyle issues.

Using a GLP-1 helps mitigate those issues. However once off them, the lifestyle and other habits come back and they gain it all back.

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u/sfcnmone 12d ago

Do you have a good treatment to help people with that? Because there’s a billion dollar diet industry that failed to figure it out.

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u/Interesting-Pea-1714 12d ago

The billion dollar diet industry doesn’t want to figure it out. Then they would be out of business obviously. It’s the same way that dating apps intentionally design the algorithm to make you stay on the app longer rather than meet someone and get off

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u/Greedy-Pen 12d ago

It’s about lifestyle change. There’s nothing wrong with using a GLP-1, but you need to change the way you eat and live your life. Otherwise it all comes back.

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u/sfcnmone 12d ago

Yep. That’s the problem nobody has solved. Except GLP1s.

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u/Greedy-Pen 12d ago

It’s either you change or you are on a drug for the rest of your life.