We’ve worked so hard to move past the idea that a woman’s worth is measured in how small she is.
I’ve spent years helping women untangle the belief that smaller equals healthier. Equals happier. Equals more worthy of taking up space in the world.
And we’ve made progress! The conversation about body image, about strength over shrinking, about nourishing rather than punishing…that conversation shifted.
With the rise of GLP-1’s, while there is hope for many from a medical standpoint, from a marketing standpoint, I’m concerned by the direction we’re headed.
The weight loss ads are once again inescapable.
A few weeks ago, I was curled up on the couch with my kids when Serena Williams appeared on the screen. I assumed it was going to be an ad about strength, about athleticism, about all the things she represents as one of the greatest athletes of our time.
Instead, it was an ad for Ro, a telehealth company that sells GLP-1 medications. She injected herself on camera and said, “It’s not a shortcut. It’s science.” (No mention of deeper health concerns, no discussion of her health as a whole, just a pure focus on her weight loss.)
I audibly groaned.
Not because I’m anti–GLP-1. I’m not. I want to be really clear about that from the start.
But because weight loss advertising is once again everywhere and my kids were right there watching with me.
(Side note: I paused the TV and we had a little conversation about how ads are always trying to sell us something, and that getting smaller doesn’t automatically mean getting healthier – and we don’t know her full story. Also that Serena is being paid to make this commercial and that her husband is an investor in Ro. Worth knowing.)
I’ve been sitting with this topic for a while now, turning it over, researching, taking in multiple points of view, trying to find the right words. Because I don’t want to be dismissive and I don’t want to be alarmist.
But I do think this conversation needs more nuance than what we’re currently getting – so today, I’m sharing my honest take on GLP-1s.
But first, what are GLP-1s?
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your body naturally produces after you eat.
Its job is to slow stomach emptying, increase insulin release, reduce blood sugar, and signal fullness to your brain.
GLP-1 medications are designed to mimic this hormone. The medications are synthetic compounds engineered to:
- Last much longer than natural GLP-1 (which breaks down in minutes)
- Be more potent than what your body naturally makes
- Resist degradation so they can be injected weekly instead of constantly produce.
So while they’re based on a naturally occurring hormone in the body, the actual medications are manufactured pharmaceutical compounds — not extracted from natural sources.
They were originally developed for Type 2 diabetes and some are now approved for chronic weight management. Examples include Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.
What I’m genuinely encouraged by…
Let me start here, because I think it matters: for people living with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and serious metabolic disease; people who have felt completely stuck despite their best efforts, GLP-1 medications provide a lot of hope.
I’ve seen how debilitating metabolic dysfunction can be. It creates a cycle that is incredibly hard to break.
These medications can interrupt that cycle.
They can open a door that has felt sealed shut. And for many people, they can be the catalyst that makes other healthy lifestyle shifts finally feel possible.
I know some of you are on GLP-1s and seeing real benefits (better energy, improved labs, the ability to move more freely) and they have helped you embrace additional lifestyle changes that are helping you feel your best.
That’s wonderful, and I’m genuinely happy for you!
As I share my concerns, know they’re not about your choice, they’re about how as these medications become mainstream, they are increasingly being marketed and prescribed without the kind of care we all deserve.
Where my concern is increasing…
What started as a promising medication for people with significant health conditions has rapidly become a mainstream weight loss trend.
And with an enormous amount of money to be made, the guardrails are coming off fast. (Companies, brands and influencers are flocking to get in on the money that can be made in this category right now.)
My growing concern is that GLP-1s are now being marketed more like a supplement than a medication.
Like something anyone and everyone should use. Something you just add to your routine…in the same way you might add a protein shake.
And THAT genuinely concerns me.
Because these are not supplements.
They are medications, and they come with real considerations that aren’t making it into the Instagram ads and stories we swipe past daily.
A friend recently told me she went to her doctor to discuss concerns about weight gain. Before running any blood work. Before taking her health history. Before asking what she’d already tried, her doctor immediately recommended a GLP-1.
That stopped me in my tracks. That is not how this should work.
This is an example of how inconsistent the standards of care are right now.
We all deserve doctors who take the time to truly understand the picture of our health before prescribing medications and GLP-1s are no exception.
A few things I keep coming back to…
Nutrient deficiency is a real risk
As a nutritionist, I know how hard it already is for most women to get adequate nutrition from their diet – even when they’re eating well and eating enough.
When you add a powerful appetite suppressant to the mix, you significantly reduce the chance that your body is getting the minerals, vitamins, and protein it needs to thrive.
We’re talking potential hair loss, bone loss, and not giving your brain the fuel it needs to function at its best.
These are not minor side effects.
We are talking about your quality of life beyond menopause and your overall longevity. It’s important because what you do now has a direct impact on your future body.
For women especially (particularly those of us navigating perimenopause, hormonal shifts, and the very real changes that come with midlife) adequate nutrition is foundational.
My concern is that not every provider is having the conversation about nutrients and muscle maintenance – and without that guidance, health can actually decline even as weight comes off.
And the more companies that hop on the bandwagon of selling this medication, the fewer conversations are even happening and the less guardrails there are in the industry as a whole.
These things matter significantly for long-term health.
Muscle loss matters more than we think
As women, we already lose muscle mass as we age. It’s one of the reasons I talk so much about the importance of strength and movement as we get older.
Muscle is not just about aesthetics. Muscle protects your metabolism, your bone density, your energy levels, and your long-term independence.
Research shows that GLP-1 medications can accelerate muscle loss alongside fat loss.
That trade-off has long-term consequences that aren’t being discussed loudly enough, especially for women in their 40s and 50s who are already working against that tide. Muscle becomes increasingly difficult to build as we age, even without medications.
If weight loss occurs, but strength declines as well – is it truly worth it? If you’re taking a GLP-1 primarily for weight loss and not disease, this is a question worth asking.
What happens when you stop?
This is the question I don’t see enough people asking before they start: what’s the plan long term?
These are expensive medications, and insurance coverage is inconsistent. Many people simply can’t stay on them indefinitely.
Research is clear that when people stop taking GLP-1s without a solid lifestyle foundation in place, weight often returns, and typically more than before.
That’s not a failure of the person. That’s what happens when a medication fills a gap instead of supporting a larger shift in lifestyle changes.
Before starting, this conversation needs to happen, openly and honestly, with a provider who actually knows your full picture.
If you’re taking a GLP-1, continue to prioritize your nutrition, your workouts, your sleep and the lifestyle habits that will serve you for years to come. This will always be necessary and the benefits go far beyond weight loss.
And there’s so much more we need to discuss…
I have other concerns but going into detail on each one would require me to write a book and I know you have other things to do with your day today. 🙂
So for now, I’ll say that there are several other areas that need careful attention as GLP-1s become more mainstream:
Eating disorders and disordered eating: Now that essentially anyone can become an affiliate and sell these medications online, oversight is going way down.
For someone with a history of disordered eating, this could be genuinely dangerous. This needs more protection, not less.
Young people and the next generation: I’ve spent more than a decade pushing back on the idea that smaller always equals better or healthier.
Watching Hollywood, social media, and now the people around us get drastically smaller (and seeing it celebrated) worries me deeply for the girls watching.
This adds to an already heavy pressure. More to come on this in a future email.
My deepest concern: the increasing pressure for women to shrink
The message is the same one we’ve been hearing our whole lives: you need to be smaller.
What was originally clinical is now also being dressed up as a quick-fix and aspirational.
It’s being endorsed by women we admire and it’s being promoted by (already thin and healthy) influencers that our teenagers look to for advice.
To be clear…can someone be thin and healthy? Of course. Can weight loss be a part of getting healthier? Absolutely!
But as I’ve been saying for years, weight is one data point among many.
Weight loss alone doesn’t automatically make someone healthy. And the pressure on women to make themselves smaller to fit the societal norm, has been exhausting and unhelpful.
So what do I want you to take away from all of this?
If you’re in a situation where a GLP-1 medication is or could be a part of a thoughtful, medically supervised health plan, I want you to feel supported in exploring that.
I encourage you to do it with a provider who knows your blood work, your history, your mental health, and your goals (not an influencer or an app that asks three questions and mails you a subscription).
I encourage you to ask questions, push for blood work and have a plan to build muscle and nourish yourself well in the process.
And if you don’t have a medical need, but you’re seeing the ads and the before-and-afters and feeling like maybe you should be getting smaller too, I want you to pause.
Come back to yourself.
Ask yourself what you actually want and what health actually looks like for you. Not what’s being sold to you.
You deserve more than another company profiting off of the pressure you feel to be smaller.
You deserve to be genuinely supported in your quest to become healthier, stronger and more vibrant – whatever path that looks like for you.
As always, I’m here, navigating all of this right alongside you and Lindywell will always be about supporting you to feel strong, vibrant and truly well.
This is a topic I’ll be coming back to, because there’s so much more to say. Comment and let me know what questions you’re sitting with – my team and I read every single one.
Sources:
Image: https://larsonsportsortho.com/exercise-after-60/
Image: https://www.ro.com
Magic Pill by Johann Hari
28 thoughts on “My honest take on GLP1s…”
Robin, thank you so much for this incredibly thoughtful article. I have all of the same concerns and it feels very overwhelming and defeating to try to combat the marketing machine and a medical system that relies on “customer satisfaction” and quick fixes that get you out the door instead of taking the time to get a full health picture. However, discussions like this are a concrete way to make a difference. I wanted to cheer out loud when you said you paused the TV to have a discussion right then and there with your children. Thank you for all that you do!
We’re glad that this post resonated for you, Kelsey, and we’re so thankful for your encouraging message!
Robin,
Thank you for your consistent research and placing priority on healthy living, good nutrition, exercise and bone density over fads for weight loss. I am a thin, small framed 69-year-old grandma. I struggle with osteoporosis in a couple of areas, and I am doing everything I can to fight bone loss. My concern, as you mentioned your children, is that our society puts too much emphasis on the outward instead of the inward. I do take supplements to help make sure I am getting all the nutrients I need, but I did have to add medication for my osteoporosis. It really bothered me because I have always been active and fairly thin, not realizing that a little more weight actually helps bone density! I have 12 grandchildren, and 4 are granddaughters. I work very hard to encourage good eating healthy lifestyle and to not encourage worldly, but Biblical standards to encourage them. I want them to know they are beautiful and perfect just as God designed them.
Thank you for your encouragement to continue to support them with words of truth and a godly perspective as apposed to what the world standard is supposed to be!
You are amazing Robin. I try and do your calendar everyday, and add Saturday too….plus we (my husband and I) walk often, and we just joined Silver Sneakers so we can add a few more weights!
Have a great day, see you on the screen,
Bonnie Thompson
We’re celebrating the way that you care for yourself, Bonnie, and your love and care for your family too. We’re thankful that you are a part of the Lindywell community and we are cheering you on!
This is very well explained and covers this topic in a real nuanced manner. I have been overwhelmed at times by the way it’s being advertised and pushed to every and anyone.
It IS certainly a complicated and nuanced issue and understandable that you would feel overwhelmed by the ads.
Thank you for weighing in! I always appreciate your perspective as it helps me sift through everything health and body image and thinness brings up within me. Sometimes it’s hard to realize what’s even been planted there beneath the surface by the culture we as women have been raised in, and you raise such important points to keep in mind for our overall health as we age. I’m currently caring for my aging diabetic mother and my two young daughters, as well as navigating my own health journey learning I, too, carry a propensity for diabetes. Thank you for always being a rational voice for us to turn to for all things health and wellness! I’ve been with you for 10 years as a Lindywell (TBL) member, I’m a strong supporter of all you do! 💗
Thank you for being a loyal member of the Lindywell community, Jeanine! It certainly is a lot to carry and we are happy to continue being a resource to you on your journey!
Very well said Robin! Thank you so much for addressing. I completely agree with you and i’m so thankful to hear yout thoughts. It was very helpful. God bless you!
Ashley in South Carolina
Thank you for your encouraging comment, Ashley! We hope future blogs are equally as thought provoking and helpful to you on your journey!
This was so good and something I have been wrestling with. The influencer presence is strong and I’m comparing myself to the pictures and progress to my slow progress. I love the thought at the end of coming back to yourself…thank you!
So glad that this was a topic that resonated for you and perhaps something that you needed to hear too. We are cheering you on on your continued journey, Katelyn! You are worth it!
Thank you Robin! You put words to lots of thoughts swirling in my head.
We’re glad this resonated for you, Erin, and appreciate your kind encouragement too.
Thank you for this thoughtful article. I have friends who are taking these for weight loss with no underlying medical issues. They’re thrilled with the results. I am 65 and am 20 lbs. overweight but otherwise healthy. I have been researching these telehealth options but am going hit pause, as you suggested. You’re right- this is all about companies profiting from societal pressure to be thinner. As much as I would like to take a magic pill, instead I’m going to focus on good nutrition and moving my body. And if that results in weight loss, great. And if it doesn’t, that’s also great.
This is a complex and nuanced topic that needs equally as careful thought and consideration and we’re so glad that you have been digging into what is best for you, Katherine!
I echo many of the comments above! Thank you for communicating the truth in love, Robin! I have been a member since spring 2016 and am a 41 year old mom of four young kids and struggled with poor self image all my life, disordered eating as a college student, and to this day still turn to food when I feel stressed or as a distraction. I am 4’11” and all my life have thought that I should be thinner because I am so short. I do a poor job with properly nourishing myself. A church friend who is a holistic dietitian recently told me that I need to focus on strength training at my age and said that I should consider a program called EVLO fitness (that uses heavier weights than I have ever used) and that it seems like Lindywell’s workouts would not be sufficient to build muscle. She also recommended an anti-inflammatory diet since I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at 8 years old. Can a Lindywell team member kindly point me to the specific videos that would help me to properly build muscle at my age?
Thank you so much for your vulnerability and sharing about your journey and struggles, Courtney! You are not alone and we’re glad that you’re looking for ways to better care for yourself. I can definitely recommend the Pilates-Inspired Weight Training Parts 1, 2, & 3 to you. You can find those here and keep an eye out on your March workout calendar for the Never Felt Better challenge starting on March 16, which includes Pilates workouts with weights. You’ve got this! And we’re cheering you on!
YES! All of what you said is what I’ve been thinking & wondering. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for your kind message, Danielle, we’re so glad this resonated with you!
Thank you, Robin, for your thoughtful post about this medication. I have seen a friend benefit greatly from a GLP-1 but there is no exit plan to get off this medication. What they are recommending is lowering the dose to maintain weight loss FOR LIFE. I am always concerned when pharmaceutical companies are pushing something that creates a customer indefinitely for them. I don’t think we have enough research on the long-terms effects of these drugs and in addition to that that, these medications affect our dopamine system. This has important implications for our mental health which I haven’t seen researched or addressed at all. I’m not anti-GLP 1 medication but I think we need to slow this train down and proceed with a great deal of caution.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Anne Marie. It’s clear you’ve been thinking carefully about this topic, and we really appreciate the balanced perspective you bring.These are important and nuanced discussions, and it’s wonderful to see them happening with so much care.
We hope you’ll find future Wellness Wednesdays equally as informative and helpful!
Thank you for your post. I have an appointment to see a nutritionist next week and she run a lot of bloodwork tests. I am not interested in taking GLP-1’s like several of my colleagues. I’ve been weight training and I sleep well, but I know I lack in the nutrition portion. I’m hoping she looks at that first. Thank you again! I feel more confident going into that appointment!
So glad that this was helpful to you and that you’re feeling more confident in caring for yourself in the way that is right for you! Cheering you on, Amy!
Excellent article and explanation for the GPL-1’s. These ads are coming from
everywhere and I also have a friend selling them. My husband takes Monjauro due to his Type 2 diabetes.
I’ll stick to Lindywell!
Thank you!
We’re glad this article resonated for you, Adele, and so thankful that you’re a part of the Lindywell community.
Robin,
Thank you so much for taking the time to thoughtfully write out this email. Your angle on using GLP-1s as a quick fix for weight loss and the wrong message it is sending to people is so true. We need more advocates for women, like you, that stand up for healthy living: a healthy nutritional approach to weight loss that includes a strength training plan and encompasses emotional eating. Wouldn’t it be great if we could educate our young people early enough in their lives on what a healthy lifestyle truly is: taking care of our bodies inside and out by eating healthfully and strength training to protect our muscles and bones?
I personally know a lot of ladies who have traveled down this road for the “quick fix” with the GLP-1s and put the weight right back on as soon as they stopped it, not to mention the loss of muscle mass. As we know, doctors are not taught enough about nutrition in school, and now they are freely prescribing these meds without doing one of the most important things…..teaching their patients about proper nutrition above all else and ensuring that they have routine weight monitoring vs just prescribing it!! It’s like having gastric bypass surgery for weight loss and then eating Cheetos because they are on the approved food list, truly mind blowing (I know someone who did this).
It is so tempting to go for the quick fix, especially when you are already eating healthy and lifting weights, but those extra pounds will not budge, this is my own personal struggle right now. As an RN, what worries me beyond the “get skinny quick” picture these adds and celebrities are painting is the true health concerns long term: GI problems, cancers and the list goes on, topics that should also be taking place with providers before they are prescribed, but I seriously doubt they are. And the fact that people can literally buy them over the counter now is truly scary!
GLP-1s do have a place in the medical community, for those who have metabolic disorders and for those who are morbidly obese (those taking GLP-1s for weight loss should be mandated by their provider to attend intensive nutritional education classes, a strength training plan and a plan on how to wean off of the medication once they are nearing their goal weight).
Thank you so much for sharing, Lori! We appreciate your perspective and your work as a health care provider. We’re thankful that you’re a part of the Lindywell community and we’re cheering you on!