In a recent article on MedPage Today, a physician shared an honest, experience-based reflection: they no longer believe GLP-1 medications are the ultimate solution for obesity or long-term health.
And I couldn’t agree more.
Initially celebrated as breakthrough medications for weight loss, GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have undoubtedly helped many people lose weight rapidly. They work by suppressing appetite, slowing gastric emptying, and promoting early satiety.
But here's the issue:
➔ The weight often comes back when the medication is stopped.
➔ They don't address the root causes of weight gain, metabolic dysfunction, or inflammation.
➔ They act too far downstream to create sustainable, lasting change.
🧬 How GLP-1s Work Beyond Appetite
Interestingly, GLP-1 medications do more than curb hunger.
They also have anti-inflammatory effects that can temporarily improve metabolic markers:
- They reduce systemic inflammation by modulating cytokine production (lowering IL-6, TNF-alpha, etc.)
- They improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.
- They can dampen some immune pathways linked to obesity-related inflammation.
This partly explains why some patients not only lose weight but also see improvements in blood sugar control, blood pressure, and even markers of cardiovascular risk.
However:
These improvements are dependent on continued use.
Once the medication is stopped, inflammation, appetite, insulin resistance, and weight often rebound—sometimes severely.
⚡ Why Short-Term "Boosts" Are Not the Answer
There’s a growing trend of using GLP-1s as a short-term "boost" to jumpstart weight loss.
I strongly caution against this approach.
Here's why:
- GLP-1 medications don't rewire the body's metabolic regulation. They artificially override hunger and inflammation pathways—but they don't fix the underlying drivers.
- Stopping the medication often leads to rapid weight regain, and sometimes worsened insulin resistance.
- The potential side effects are serious and sometimes irreversible—including severe gastrointestinal issues, muscle loss, pancreatic dysfunction, gallbladder disease, and possible neurological impacts.
If someone is willing to commit to being on a GLP-1 medication indefinitely—and accepts the risks involved—it may be reasonable in certain cases.
But using it short-term as a shortcut is, in my opinion, a dangerous gamble.
🛑 My Current Position on GLP-1 Use
While I completely understand the appeal—especially for individuals who have struggled with stubborn weight issues—I have major concerns about the widespread and casual use of GLP-1s at this point in time.
- They are tools, not cures.
- They operate too far downstream to create lasting health if the root causes of metabolic dysfunction (toxins, inflammation, stress, microbiome imbalances, hormonal shifts) are not addressed.
- The long-term safety profile is still uncertain, and early warning signs suggest that some risks may be more serious than initially acknowledged.
Because of this, I generally do not recommend GLP-1s—even as part of an integrated weight loss or healing strategy.
True recovery, whether from weight gain, metabolic syndrome, or chronic inflammatory conditions, must come from addressing the whole terrain:
Detoxification, immune rebalancing, mitochondrial health, hormonal regulation, nervous system calming, and sustainable lifestyle shifts.
There are no shortcuts—but there are real, lasting solutions when we focus on root causes.
📝 Final Thoughts
GLP-1 medications offer temporary benefits—but they are not a free pass to permanent health.
They may have a place for some patients willing to use them long-term and thoughtfully—but they are not the magic bullet we all wish they were.
As time goes on, we will learn more about whether they represent a relatively safe, long-term "band-aid" or whether the downsides outweigh the gains.
For now, my position remains clear:
Caution, not celebration.
Root cause healing, not quick fixes.
Root Cause Healing: Where Real Recovery Begins