The Buzz Around GLP-1s
As more and more people are using these for weight loss, research is starting to find even more potential benefits for things like cardiovascular health, metabolic health, liver support, addiction and probably more. So I think it’s important to be aware that this is out there in case it could be useful to you or someone you know.
GLP-1 - What is it?
GLP-1 is short for glucagon-like peptide-1. It is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body in the gut. It is also a prescribed medication for weight loss that has become immensely popular because of how well it works. Some of the different names you may have heard include Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
How does it make people lose weight?
In the body GLP-1 has a few different roles. When we eat, particularly carbohydrates, GLP-1 tells the pancreas to secrete more insulin. This is why GLP-1 medications were first used to help people with Type 2 diabetes. It also helps slow gastric emptying, meaning your stomach empties more slowly. This helps you stay fuller for longer, reducing the amount of calories you eat.
There’s one more way GLP-1s are helping people lose weight but I first want to talk about why we eat.
Types of Hunger
We eat because we’re hungry. But why do we get hungry? The feeling of hunger comes from more than just needing energy or nutrients. There are actually four types of hunger:
Homeostatic hunger - This is hormones telling the brain that the body needs more energy or nutrients.
Conditioned hunger - This is hunger that comes out of habit and can be socially or environmentally cued: It’s your friend’s birthday so you go out for dinner or have cake; You go to a baseball game so you get a hot dog and nachos.
Microbiota hunger - Your gut microbiome plays a large role in your overall health, including your hunger. Depending on what microbes are living in your gut, they like to eat different things which can lead you to crave certain foods.
Hedonic hunger - This is hunger for pleasure. You know you’re full but you want that dessert. You aren’t hungry but the smell of those fresh pastries makes you stop in the bakery shop. This type of hunger can also be called food noise which many people suffer from.
So back to the other way GLP-1s are helping people lose weight. Taking GLP-1s appear to help quiet the food noise that people have, leading them to have less interest in some foods. This leads to less overeating.
Interestingly, other “noise” may also be quieted with GLP-1s including things like drinking alcohol.
Side Effects
The most common side effects reported from taking GLP-1s are nausea, constipation, and diarrhea. These can be mitigated by starting at a very low dose and slowly increasing the dose to the minimum required. Also eating plenty of fiber will help with keeping things moving at the right speed in your digestive system.
It is very important to remember that ANY time someone is losing a lot of weight quickly, they can easily lose muscle as well as fat. This is why it’s critical for people taking GLP-1s for weight loss to be sure they are eating enough protein and doing resistance training to make sure they don’t lose muscle, only the excess fat.
It can be hard for a person taking GLP-1s to get the amount of protein they need if they’re appetite is also being suppressed making it hard to want to eat. This is where having some professional help and support is key.
Not a Quick Fix, Just a Tool
GLP-1s are life changing (and potentially life saving) for people, especially those who have been struggling with obesity for years trying to do everything “right.” It is important to keep in mind that this medication is just a tool in the toolbox. Lifestyle and diet also have to be there for these changes to be lasting. It is possible to come off GLP-1s and keep the weight off. Research has found that those who also incorporated diet and lifestyle changes had much better success at keeping excess weight off long term.