GLP-1s and Weight Loss: Benefits, Risks and Alternatives

Looking for “easy, fast weight loss,” Jeannette Cooper-Margolis of Atlantic Beach, NY, received a prescription for Wegovy, a GLP-1 weight-loss medication. She saw positive results. “The constant food noise stopped. The weight loss was slow and steady,” she recalls. However, despite losing 15 pounds in three months, she experienced constipation, ongoing discomfort and malaise that led her to discontinue the medication. While Wegovy helped her lose weight, she decided it wasn't right for her. GLP-1 is a hormone naturally produced in the intestines after eating. GLP-1 medications have become increasingly popular among people looking to lose weight. These treatments can be life-changing for some, although they aren't for everyone. Experts say they should always be taken under medical supervision. Medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound, administered through injections and in some cases, pill form, act on hormone pathways that help regulate appetite, increase feelings of fullness and