Aliquot #128: The Expanding Role of Weight Loss Drugs
Update: 2025-06-03
Description
New weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy offer powerful benefits but come with trade-offs. Originally designed to manage blood sugar in diabetes, their ability to regulate appetite and metabolism has made them popular for weight loss. As their use expands, researchers are exploring their potential beyond diabetes and obesity, including heart and kidney health and addiction treatment. But with their rise in popularity come important questions about long-term effects and safe use.
In this Aliquot, I discuss how these drugs work, their pros and cons, the latest research, and lifestyle strategies to optimize their effects for long-term health.
This episode includes several key discussion points:
In this Aliquot, I discuss how these drugs work, their pros and cons, the latest research, and lifestyle strategies to optimize their effects for long-term health.
This episode includes several key discussion points:
- 00:01:10 - What GLP-1 does after eating
- 00:02:24 - How Ozempic works by copying a natural hormone
- 00:02:58 - Why GLP-1 slows digestion
- 00:03:38 - Do blood sugar spikes affect cognitive clarity?
- 00:06:26 - How GLP-1s reduce appetite and body fat
- 00:07:26 - Can semaglutide support long-term fat loss?
- 00:10:52 - Why GLP-1s may cause muscle loss without protein and resistance training
- 00:13:44 - What happens when you stop GLP-1 drugs?
- 00:14:46 - Common and rare side effects of GLP-1 drugs
- 00:19:10 - Keeping weight off after GLP-1 therapy
- 00:23:41 - Do GLP-1s treat arthritis—or just ease joint stress from weight loss?
- 00:25:55 - Do GLP-1s protect the heart even without weight loss?
- 00:27:42 - Can GLP-1s slow brain aging?
- 00:32:13 - Do GLP-1s help treat substance abuse?
- 00:33:03 - GLP-1s and their potential role in cancer prevention
- 00:34:43 - Maintaining muscle on GLP-1s
- 00:36:59 - Preventing bone loss while using GLP-1s
- 00:39:41 - Who should consider GLP-1s?
This Aliquot features segments from the following Q&As with Dr. Rhonda Patrick. Watch the full session and access show notes here:
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