{"id":422699,"date":"2026-04-29T02:42:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T02:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/422699\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T02:42:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T02:42:10","slug":"11-things-people-keep-getting-wrong-about-glp-1s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/422699\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Things People Keep Getting Wrong About GLP-1s"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s no question that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like Wegovy<\/a> and Ozempic<\/a> have shifted how we think about weight: although GLP-1s have been used for years to treat diabetes, the latest research<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a> <\/p>\n

According to leading experts on GLP-1 use, here are some of the biggest things people keep getting wrong about the drugs.<\/p>\n

Myth: GLP-1s Are Expensive and Not Accessible<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Noom<\/a> is a psychology-focused weight-loss and wellness program that offers weight-loss medication like Wegovy<\/a> or compounded semaglutide<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Janylle Radden<\/a>, Director, Partner Development at SheMedia, shares her experience with Noom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started Noom four months ago,\u201d she says. \u201cI had been curious about a GLP-1 for at least a year and finally decided to try it. Given that I\u2019m 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\u2019s recommendation. The app itself is really easy to use and offers a lot of support \u2014 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 \u2014 I did before I took my first shot \u2014 they\u2019re answered promptly. I asked questions of my assigned doctor as well as my coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: GLP-1 Medicines Only Cause Weight Loss<\/p>\n

Fact: Dr. Jody-Ann McLean<\/a>, a medical doctor and health writer with a focus on women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s an oversimplification,\u201d she says. \u201cFor 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.\u201d 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. \u201cFor some, this can mean supporting your metabolic health beyond the number on the scale.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: GLP-1s Are New Drugs, and Therefore the Long-Term Effects Haven\u2019t Been Studied<\/p>\n

Fact: Dr. Jessica Shepherd<\/a>, OB-GYN, menopause expert and chief medical officer at Hers<\/a> explained that these drugs aren\u2019t really new, and that they\u2019ve 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<\/a> (FDA) in 2005 under the name Byetta.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve 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,\u201d said Shepherd, who noted that explaining to patients that these aren\u2019t new drugs can help them feel reassured safety-wise, while using them.<\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Myth: GLP-1s Are an \u2018Easy Way Out\u2019 for Weight Loss<\/p>\n

Fact: Another misconception? That using GLP-1 is \u201ctaking the easy way out\u201d when it comes to weight loss, said Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen<\/a>, triple board-certified endocrinologist, founder of StrengthMD<\/a> and author of the upcoming book Weightless<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a big misconception of people that are not using the medication because the people that are on the medication, they know that it\u2019s not an easy way out,\u201d she said. \u201cActually, it involves more work than many were doing even before because now we\u2019re sending them to the gym to pick up the dumbbells, to count their protein<\/a>, to be accountable and do the body composition. It\u2019s not easy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plus, there\u2019s 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<\/a> like gastrointestinal issues such as constipation, nausea and diarrhea.<\/p>\n

Myth: You Have to Stay on GLP-1s Forever<\/p>\n

Fact: Another misconception about GLP-1s, Salas-Whalen and Dr. Alexandra Sowa<\/a>, double board-certified physician in internal and obesity medicine, founder of SoWell Health<\/a> and author of The Ozempic<\/a> Revolution<\/a> 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\u2019s not true.<\/p>\n

During the panel, both Sowa and Salas-Whalen said that each patient is individual and that each person\u2019s specific circumstances and goals determines the length of treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re in midlife in your 50s or 60s and you\u2019ve struggle with weight since childhood, most likely you\u2019ll need this medication long-term,\u201d she said. \u201cBut if you\u2019re somebody that gained weight during pregnancy and hit midlife, then maybe you won\u2019t need the medication long-term.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: You Will Definitely Lose Muscle Mass While on a GLP-1<\/p>\n

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<\/a> and bone density<\/a>, so many doctors are hesitant to prescribe GLP-1s that might contribute to this decline.<\/p>\n

But Salas-Whalen said this isn\u2019t necessarily true. \u201cThat\u2019s another misconception, that you go on this medication and you\u2019re going to lose 30 to 40% of your muscle mass,\u201d she said. \u201cThat 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, your muscle mass can impact how long you stay on the medication. <\/p>\n

\u201cYour biggest bet to not need this medication long-term, or to be on a low dose long-term, is how well you\u2019re going to maintain your muscle mass,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you lose the muscle, it\u2019s very hard to even decrease the dose of the medication when patients gain muscle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: GLP-1s Fix Hormonal Issues on Their Own<\/p>\n

\u201cGLP-1 medicines can support your metabolic and hormonal health, but they don\u2019t replace the need for lifestyle interventions, which are the foundation,\u201d Dr. McLean shares. We\u2019re talking about exercise, sleep, stress management, and healthy food choices. \u201cThis can be really important where under-eating and lean mass loss on GLP-1 medicines can be a real risk.\u201d She also adds that it\u2019s important to avoid nutritional deficiencies and focus on \u201cregular, nutrient-dense meals with enough protein, alongside strength training to maintain muscle mass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: You Regain All the Weight as Soon as You Stop Taking Them<\/p>\n

Fact: \u201cWhile it\u2019s 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,\u201d explains Dr. James J. Chao<\/a>, chief medical officer and co-founder of a wellness brand, VedaNu Wellness<\/a>, located in San Diego. \u201cPatients 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: Compounded and Brand-Name Versions are the Same<\/p>\n

Fact: Dr. Chao says that another myth is that compounded and brand-name versions are the same. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: Higher Doses Yield More Results<\/p>\n

Fact: Another myth is that the higher the dose, the better the results. According to Dr. Chao, that is false. \u201cMost patients will do just as well dose-wise by titrating to the lowest dose that works for them, often with meaningfully fewer GI symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myth: GI Side Effects are Inevitable on GLP-1 Medications.<\/p>\n

Fact: According to Nicole Randazzo<\/a>, a registered dietitian, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and the founder of Bettr Full<\/a>, a nutrition private practice, while GI symptoms can occur, they are largely avoidable with the right approach. \u201cProper meal timing and a well-balanced plate \u2014 one that includes adequate protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats \u2014 can significantly reduce nausea and digestive discomfort,\u201d she says. \u201cMost side effects are a signal that eating habits need adjustment, not that the medication must be stopped.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s no question that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic have shifted how we think about…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":422700,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[184923,184924,184925,24233,103,61,60,371,4370,10421,14955],"class_list":{"0":"post-422699","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-dr-alexandra-sowa","9":"tag-dr-jessica-shepherd","10":"tag-dr-rocio-salas-whalen","11":"tag-glp1","12":"tag-health","13":"tag-ie","14":"tag-ireland","15":"tag-medication","16":"tag-ozempic","17":"tag-semaglutide","18":"tag-wegovy"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=422699"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/422699\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/422700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=422699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=422699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=422699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}