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New GLP1 Study

Updated: May 21

A new study published in Nature Medicine, January 20, 2025, presents some new information about the glucagon-like peptide-1, (GLP-1).


This drug is used for treating type II diabetes, but a side effect of decreased hunger and increased satiety has prompted its use as an anti-obesity medication. It is now highly publicized as an anti-obesity medication and its use is highly promoted.


However, using the side effects of drugs to provide a treatment option is not without its problems. Other side effects include:

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Constipation

  • Abdominal pain

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • rarely, paralysis of the stomach

  • new discoveries show a negative affect to the:

    • pancreas

    • kidneys


Now the side effects are not all negative. The GLP-1 drugs are associated with significant benefits to neurological and behavioral health, such as reduced risk of:

  • seizures

  • addiction

    • alcohol

    • cannabis

    • stimulants

    • opioids

  • suicidal ideation

  • self-harm

  • bulimia

  • psychotic disorders

    • schizophrenia

  • neurocognitive disorders

    • Alzheimer’s

    • dementia


Before you get all excited and exclaim what a wonderful drug this is that treats so many conditions, let's continue looking at the facts.


While the GLP-1 drugs show effectiveness against many health problems, the associated benefit is modest

  • about a 10 to 20 percent reduction for most outcomes.

  • This includes the amount of stimulus to your satiety and suppression of your hunger.

  • The benefits are even less for the other side effects..


An unfortunate consequence for the newly discovered pancreas and kidney side effects, is that, although they are rare, they can be very devastating. Physicians must be vigilant for signs of pancreatitis and monitor kidney function. Kidney problems can occur without symptoms until the condition is at an advanced stage with limited treatment options, i.e. you may end up being on dialysis and needing a transplant.


Also, note that with all of the weight loss medications including GLP-1, and in fact all of the weight loss schemes, lifestyle modifications are recommended, i.e. diet and exercise.


So, why, with all of the risks of side effects, and only minimal benefit to your satiety and hunger, would you want to use such a drug to help you lose weight?


The answer lies in the fact that people ignore the minimal potential benefit, and hope that the drug is going to be the answer to their long sought after weight loss. They don't realize that they will still have to reduce their caloric intake sufficiently to lose weight.


  • Maybe the drug will be enough, maybe not.

  • Can you afford the medication even if you have insurance?

  • How long can you use the drug before potential side effects force you to stop using it?

  • What happens if you lose your weight? Are you going to be able to maintain it without the drug?

    • continuing to use the drug just increases the chance that you will experience adverse side effects.

  • What about your nutritional health?

    • this is not really talked about, only superficially.


I suspect that the success of this drug is going to be similar to the drugs that have been used to help people stop smoking and quit other deleterious habits. Unless you develop the will power to form new eating habits, no drug, diet, exercise, supplement, surgery or any other treatment modality is going to be effective in the long term.


Plus, if you don't learn to eat healthily, you may end up causing yourself other problems that you will not want to deal with.


The link to the review of this article is below. The link to the actual publication requires a subscription to the journal to be able to review it.


Let me know what you think in the comments below. Thanks for taking the time to read this blog.


Until next blog.



 
 
 

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