glp-1 agonists for Weight Loss: Are They Right for You?

The discovery of GLP-1 agonists brought a revolutionary change to the management of diabetes, offering a non-invasive approach to help insulin, produced by your pancreas, effectively do its job in regulating glucose levels in the blood. This also prevents rapid deterioration of your pancreas due to diabetes, thereby minimizing your risks of becoming dependent on insulin injections for life. Interestingly, one of the side effects of GLP-1 agonists is weight loss, making this medication an appealing regimen in people who are aiming for a specific goal weight. Although with several properties promoting weight loss, GLP-1 agonists should not be used for the sole purpose of losing weight. Aside from putting yourself at risk of experiencing adverse health effects, GLP-1 agonists must be taken for life to maintain the weight you have previously lost. This means that GLP1-agonists are not efficient, long-term solutions to achieving your weight goals! 

What are GLP-1 agonists?

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, such as semaglutide (famously known as Ozempic) or liraglutide, are a type of medication used to regulate blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. These medications help stimulate the secretion of insulin after eating a meal rich in glucose, thereby preventing too much buildup of glucose in the blood through effectively facilitating its delivery into the cells for energy.1 Additionally, GLP-1 agonists prevent your pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for secreting insulin, from self-destruction, thereby helping to maintain the amount of insulin needed to prevent build-up of sugars in the blood. However, GLP-1 agonists can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, or headaches, which can affect the quality of life in people using these medications.

How do GLP-1 agonists promote weight loss? 

GLP-1 agonists cause weight loss by reducing your appetite and promoting early feelings of satiety.2 This means that taking GLP-1 agonists will make you feel full quickly compared to when you are not including these medications in your regimen. Interestingly, appetite reduction associated with GLP-1 agonists may be due to their effects on the receptors in your brain that are responsible for maintaining energy balance and regulating food intake.2 Additionally, experiencing nausea and vomiting while taking these medications will inevitably affect your desire to eat. Once your eating habits are affected, nutritional deficiencies due to lack of food intake may occur! This can affect your body’s regulatory processes and may lead to weakness and fatigue due to problems with energy production, brittle bones from calcium deficiency, and weakened immune system that will put you at risk of infections. Hence, the use of GLP-1 agonists  for weight loss is not without health consequences. Liraglutide, for instance, can increase your risks of developing cancer or pancreatitis and have severe implications on your mental well-being.2 
​

Helps Reduce Cravings

GLP-1 Boosting Probiotic

Healthy Glucose Levels

​The Naturopathic Approach

Rather than limiting yourself to taking GLP-1 agonists for weight loss and experiencing its adverse health effects just to achieve your weight goals, naturopathic care offers a natural and holistic approach that nurtures your health without forcing the body past its own healthy, desired weight. Intuitive eating practices offer a revolutionary change towards your eating habits by helping you listen to your body’s natural cues on when to eat and stop eating. Herbs like ginger (Zingiber officinale), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), and bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.), can help naturally increase GLP-1 secretion, so our team will work with these natural remedies to manage blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity.
​

​At Natural Path to Wellness, we will help you explore herbal medications, supplementations, and mind-body practices that will not only help you achieve a healthy body weight, but also promote healthier eating and lifestyle habits for long-term stability. Talk to us today!
​

become a client

​This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements. 

​Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.

REFERENCES:

1. Collins L, Costello RA. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; February 29, 2024.
2. Popoviciu MS, Păduraru L, Yahya G, Metwally K, Cavalu S. Emerging Role of GLP-1 Agonists in Obesity: A Comprehensive Review of Randomised Controlled Trials. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(13):10449. Published 2023 Jun 21. doi:10.3390/ijms241310449

​