There’s no question that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic have shifted how we think about weight: although GLP-1s have been used for years to treat diabetes, the latest research has found that this class of medications can have a profound impact on metabolic health and other weight loss benefits. But there are many misconceptions that persist about these metabolic marvels. To help combat fiction with fact, The Flow Space consulted with experts to bust myths and talk about what role GLP-1s play in the emerging science about metabolic health.
According to leading experts on GLP-1 use, here are some of the biggest things people keep getting wrong about the drugs.
Myth: GLP-1s Are Expensive and Not Accessible
Fact: Over the past few years, these medications have become more affordable thanks to advancements in the field and the availability of safer alternatives to leading brands. Now, a multitude of platforms that provide science-based meditations with prescriptions, like Noom.
Noom is a psychology-focused weight-loss and wellness program that offers weight-loss medication like Wegovy or compounded semaglutide, as well as virtual care from clinicians who guide you on your weight loss journey. There are multiple plans to choose from, including a popular option that costs $129 for the intro price for our standard-dose GLP-1Rx program. There is also a $79 plan for those in the Microdose phase.
Janylle Radden, Director, Partner Development at SheMedia, shares her experience with Noom.
“I started Noom four months ago,” she says. “I had been curious about a GLP-1 for at least a year and finally decided to try it. Given that I’m a bit of a scaredy cat about medicines, I thought a microdose would make me feel better about it. I signed up and started, per my assigned doctor’s recommendation. The app itself is really easy to use and offers a lot of support — a doctor, a coach, and a community area where you can interact with others on the same journey. The instructions were basically foolproof and very thorough. And if I have any questions — I did before I took my first shot — they’re answered promptly. I asked questions of my assigned doctor as well as my coach.”
Myth: GLP-1 Medicines Only Cause Weight Loss
Fact: Dr. Jody-Ann McLean, a medical doctor and health writer with a focus on women’s hormonal and metabolic health, explains that when you think about GLP-1 medicines, what jumps to mind is most likely weight loss, and yes they can lead to weight loss through several mechanisms, like suppressing your appetite, reducing cravings, and slowing how quickly food leaves your stomach which can increase feelings of fullness.
“But it’s an oversimplification,” she says. “For women going through menopause or even with conditions like PCOS, one of the key problems is insulin resistance. And GLP-1 medicines can target that.” GLP-1s can help your body release insulin when blood sugar is high after eating, regulate your blood sugar level, and help regulate your appetite. “For some, this can mean supporting your metabolic health beyond the number on the scale.”
Myth: GLP-1s Are New Drugs, and Therefore the Long-Term Effects Haven’t Been Studied
Fact: Dr. Jessica Shepherd, OB-GYN, menopause expert and chief medical officer at Hers explained that these drugs aren’t really new, and that they’ve been used in treatments for quite a while; new research continues to surface new benefits and uses, but exenatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, was the first approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 under the name Byetta.
“We’ve been using [GLP-1s] for years in diabetics because this is a form of medication that was helping with glucose mobilization and helping with the levels of glucose to get them to not have high sugar,” said Shepherd, who noted that explaining to patients that these aren’t new drugs can help them feel reassured safety-wise, while using them.
She said that research has since built on this existing body of knowledge to understand how the drugs can be used in non-diabetic patients for weight loss and metabolism management.
Myth: GLP-1s Are an ‘Easy Way Out’ for Weight Loss
Fact: Another misconception? That using GLP-1 is “taking the easy way out” when it comes to weight loss, said Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, triple board-certified endocrinologist, founder of StrengthMD and author of the upcoming book Weightless.
“This is a big misconception of people that are not using the medication because the people that are on the medication, they know that it’s not an easy way out,” she said. “Actually, it involves more work than many were doing even before because now we’re sending them to the gym to pick up the dumbbells, to count their protein, to be accountable and do the body composition. It’s not easy.”
Plus, there’s extensive evidence that many people who take GLP-1s do not in fact have an easy time taking the drugs. There are a number of possible and potentially complex side effects like gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, nausea and diarrhea.
Myth: You Have to Stay on GLP-1s Forever
Fact: Another misconception about GLP-1s, Salas-Whalen and Dr. Alexandra Sowa, double board-certified physician in internal and obesity medicine, founder of SoWell Health and author of The Ozempic Revolution said, involves how long one has to take them: Many people believe you have to take these drugs for the rest of your life to reap the benefits, but Salas-Whalen said that’s not true.
During the panel, both Sowa and Salas-Whalen said that each patient is individual and that each person’s specific circumstances and goals determines the length of treatment.
“If you’re in midlife in your 50s or 60s and you’ve struggle with weight since childhood, most likely you’ll need this medication long-term,” she said. “But if you’re somebody that gained weight during pregnancy and hit midlife, then maybe you won’t need the medication long-term.”
Myth: You Will Definitely Lose Muscle Mass While on a GLP-1
Fact: One major worry with midlife and older women taking GLP-1s involves muscle mass. This group is already at risk of losing precious muscle mass and bone density, so many doctors are hesitant to prescribe GLP-1s that might contribute to this decline.
But Salas-Whalen said this isn’t necessarily true. “That’s another misconception, that you go on this medication and you’re going to lose 30 to 40% of your muscle mass,” she said. “That is not true and that is poor guidance from whoever is prescribing this medication [because] we all have patients that gain muscle during GLP-1 medication.”
However, your muscle mass can impact how long you stay on the medication.
“Your biggest bet to not need this medication long-term, or to be on a low dose long-term, is how well you’re going to maintain your muscle mass,” she said. “If you lose the muscle, it’s very hard to even decrease the dose of the medication when patients gain muscle.”
Myth: GLP-1s Fix Hormonal Issues on Their Own
“GLP-1 medicines can support your metabolic and hormonal health, but they don’t replace the need for lifestyle interventions, which are the foundation,” Dr. McLean shares. We’re talking about exercise, sleep, stress management, and healthy food choices. “This can be really important where under-eating and lean mass loss on GLP-1 medicines can be a real risk.” She also adds that it’s important to avoid nutritional deficiencies and focus on “regular, nutrient-dense meals with enough protein, alongside strength training to maintain muscle mass.”
Myth: You Regain All the Weight as Soon as You Stop Taking Them
Fact: “While it’s true that some regain is inevitable for most people, clinical trial data shows patients regain about two-thirds of their prior weight loss within a year of stopping treatment, though real-world data suggests more than half of patients maintain most of their weight loss,” explains Dr. James J. Chao, chief medical officer and co-founder of a wellness brand, VedaNu Wellness, located in San Diego. “Patients who continue resistance training 3x/week and keep protein consumption elevated to about 1.2-1.6g/kg may preserve a meaningful portion of their weight loss.”
Myth: Compounded and Brand-Name Versions are the Same
Fact: Dr. Chao says that another myth is that compounded and brand-name versions are the same. “The FDA has issued warnings regarding both safety and inconsistent potency with compounded semaglutide. Dosing errors with compounded medications land far more people in emergency rooms than most people realize.”
Myth: Higher Doses Yield More Results
Fact: Another myth is that the higher the dose, the better the results. According to Dr. Chao, that is false. “Most patients will do just as well dose-wise by titrating to the lowest dose that works for them, often with meaningfully fewer GI symptoms.”
Myth: GI Side Effects are Inevitable on GLP-1 Medications.
Fact: According to Nicole Randazzo, a registered dietitian, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and the founder of Bettr Full, a nutrition private practice, while GI symptoms can occur, they are largely avoidable with the right approach. “Proper meal timing and a well-balanced plate — one that includes adequate protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats — can significantly reduce nausea and digestive discomfort,” she says. “Most side effects are a signal that eating habits need adjustment, not that the medication must be stopped.”
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