GLP-1 Meds: My Honest Take & How to Support Your Body

GLP-1 Medications: Rethinking My Stance + How to Support Yourself While Using Them

I’ll admit it: I was extremely biased against GLP-1 medications when I first heard about them.

When clients started asking me about Ozempic and Mounjaro, I pretty much tried to keep my head firmly in the sand. It felt like yet another quick-fix weight loss trend—and as someone who’s spent two decades helping people nourish themselves (often in direct opposition to diet culture), it didn’t sit right.

I believe deeply in real body positivity—not just as a marketing term, but as a radical practice of gratitude for the incredible things our bodies do for us everyday, regardless of shape or size.  Their capacity for pleasure and healing is astounding.  I truly believe there is health at every size, and that “thin” does not equal “healthy.”  So yes, I feel concern when I see these medications pushed in celebrity culture, as bodies in the public eye shrink. There’s no denying that fatphobia plays a major role in how GLP-1s are perceived and prescribed, and how people feel about their bodies.

But refusing to look doesn’t serve anyone. Especially not my clients.

So I started reading. I listened to thoughtful podcasts from trusted clinicians, reviewed the actual research, and most importantly, heard firsthand from people using these medications—not just about weight loss, but about their whole-body benefits and life-changing effects.

And I came to an uncomfortable but freeing realization: I had been resoundingly wrong.

What Are GLP-1 Medications?

GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (brand names: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) mimic or enhance the action of incretin hormones that regulate blood sugar, insulin, and appetite. They slow gastric emptying, help the body respond better to insulin, and reduce food intake by improving satiety and curbing cravings.

But their effects reach far beyond glucose and weight.

Benefits Beyond Weight Loss

Many people are surprised—and frankly, so was I—to learn that these medications offer a wide range of potential benefits independent of weight loss:

  • Systemic anti-inflammatory effects: GLP-1s reduce markers like CRP, helping to quiet chronic inflammation.

  • Decreased risk of death from COVID-19: Yes, people taking these meds had better outcomes in several studies.

  • Fatty liver reversal: Preliminary research shows reductions in liver fat and improvements in liver enzyme levels.

  • Relief from “food noise”: Many people—especially those socialized as girls and women—describe feeling freedom from obsessive, intrusive food thoughts for the first time in their lives.

  • Cardiovascular protection: GLP-1s reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure, and may even support recovery from congestive heart failure.

  • Improved lipid profiles: These meds can lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

  • Reduced alcohol and substance cravings: Some are being studied for use in addiction medicine, and many users report a notable decrease in their desire for alcohol or other substances.

What About Safety?

This is a common and important question. Let’s unpack what we know:

  • Semaglutide has decades of safety data. It was originally developed for diabetes and is well-studied.

  • Tirzepatide is newer, more expensive, and harder to get—but shows promise with fewer GI side effects for many.

  • Used properly, GLP-1s are overwhelmingly safe. Problems often stem from megadosing or very rapid weight loss.

You’re not going to get “Ozempic face” from a properly dosed and supported protocol.

Muscle Loss?

This is a general risk during any significant weight loss—not specific to GLP-1s. To mitigate this, we recommend:

  • Eating 0.65–1 gram of protein per pound of body weight

  • Doing resistance training or weightlifting to preserve lean mass

Other Safety Considerations:  We will continue to learn more as time passes and more people (and different populations) take them.  There may be contraindications, safety issues or benefits we don’t yet know about.  

  • Thyroid cancer? A rare form (medullary) showed up in rats, not humans.

  • Depression/flatness? Reported anecdotally by some, but not confirmed in larger studies. This does make sense to me though, given that the GLP-1’s may tangle with our systems of reward, etc.

  • Nausea and GI symptoms? These are real, but can be dose-related and temporary. Starting low and increasing slowly can help dramatically.  I don’t typically recommend GLP-1’s to clients with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) as impaired motility is already at the root of that imbalance.  Slowing it further can result in flares and discomfort.  It’s best to resolve the SIBO first, and then explore with your prescriber whether a GLP-1 is right for you. 

Our GLP-1 Support Kit

We’ve created a GLP-1 Support Kit at Farmacopia to help you feel better, maintain strength, and ease common side effects:

For Nausea, Queasiness & Belching

For Constipation

For Protein & Muscle Maintenance

  • Equip Beef Protein Isolate – Hypoallergenic, clean-sourced animal protein.

  • Epic Protein (Vegan) – Great plant-based option.

  • Creatine – Helps maintain strength, energy, and lean muscle mass—especially important when in a calorie deficit.

The Access Issue: Why Getting GLP-1s Isn’t Easy

Even when clients have a provider willing to prescribe these medications, insurance often won’t cover them. Appeals can drag on for months, and out-of-pocket costs are staggering—sometimes $1000/month or more.

Because of this, many people are turning to online prescription platforms.

Two vetted services I’ve heard positive things about from clients:

That said, please don’t just order from any site or buy medications off Instagram or Reddit. These are powerful, prescription-only medications that need to be handled with oversight and care.  

In the state of California, ND’s can prescribe compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide, and there are several excellent practitioners in our area who do so.  

We’re here to help you navigate this landscape with clarity and compassion. Whether you’re using a GLP-1, considering one, or supporting someone who is—this isn’t just a weight loss story. It’s a metabolic, emotional, and cultural one.

If you're curious about building a support plan tailored to your needs, reach out. We’ve got you.

With care,
Lily
Clinical Nutritionist + Herbalist
Farmacopia

Want to Learn More?

Here are some trusted resources that helped shift my perspective:

Podcasts + Interviews:

  • Dr. Peter Attia – The Drive AMA episodes on GLP-1s: thoughtful deep dives into mechanisms, pros, and cons.

  • Dr. Lauren Streicher – Interview with Danielle Belardo, MD, author of The Ozempic Revolution.

  • Huberman Lab – Conversation with Dr. Robert Lustig (UCSF) on metabolism, obesity, and neuroendocrine factors.

 

Peer-Reviewed Sources

  1. Wilding, J.P.H. et al. (2021). Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. NEJM, 384(11), 989–1002.

  2. Nauck, M.A. et al. (2021). Cardiovascular Outcomes with GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. Diabetes Obes Metab, 23(S1), 3–18.

  3. Newsome, P.N. et al. (2021). Semaglutide in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. NEJM, 384, 1113–1124.

  4. Kushner, R.F. et al. (2022). Real-World Outcomes of Tirzepatide. Diabetes Care, 45(12), 2793–2800.

  5. Xie, Y. et al. (2023). GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and COVID-19 Mortality Risk. Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism.

Ryan, D.H. et al. (2021). Safety and Efficacy of GLP-1RAs in Weight Management. The Lancet, 398(10296), 2086–2096.

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