I have to admit: When I was assigned to write my first story about the blockbuster weight loss drug Ozempic in 2023, I groaned. Yes, weight loss drugs always generate feverish interest, but historically, they’ve both fed on and fueled an unhealthy cultural obsession with thinness and have inevitably become tabloid fodder. So many weight loss medications of yore have also turned out to have truly scary side effects. So I was skeptical, to say the least.
Two years and dozens of interviews and articles later, I must say: I had it completely wrong. These medications have changed people’s lives in ways I never would have anticipated, and it’s very much not just about “getting skinny.” There’s still an abundance of misinformation about this class of medications — which includes Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound — online and even in doctors’ offices. But I’ve had the great fortune to learn so much about these GLP-1 medications from experts and patients alike. Here are four of the biggest lessons they’ve taught me.
1. People using GLP-1 medications aren’t just ‘taking the easy way out.’
You’ve probably seen someone online make the accusation, so-and-so lost weight, they must be taking Ozempic — cheater. But what you might not see is all of the work people on these medications are doing behind the scenes. Research has found that people on GLP-1 drugs will likely lose some weight even if they don’t exercise or intentionally change their dietary habits. But people on these medications can lose more weight — and help sustain it — if they do. Many people I’ve spoken to were already following intense workout regimens and strict diets before starting on a GLP-1. Still others had always wanted to exercise and finally had the energy or physical ability to do so after losing weight on these medications.
Before I started reporting on GLP-1s, I knew that obesity was a disease, and still I was shocked by just how hard people had been fighting it on their own. One person I interviewed for Yahoo’s On My Weigh series, Michael Donnelly, who tried countless diet and exercise routines before taking a GLP-1, put it best: “What people forget about the disease of obesity is that [those of us with it] know more about it than anyone else, and we’ve gained and lost weight more times than they can imagine.”
2. These medications do more than facilitate weight loss
While they can’t rightly be called “miracle drugs,” the newfound energy and ability to exercise are two of many surprising effects GLP-1s seem to have beyond just making weight loss easier.
Take Taylor McDaniels, for example. The 24-year-old used to sleep 12 hours, wake up listless at noon and rely on DoorDash for most meals. Favorite post-work activities included bed rotting and scrolling, McDaniels previously told Yahoo. Then, she started taking GLP-1s (first, compounded semaglutide, followed by compounded tirzepatide). Now, McDaniels loves a 9 a.m. Sam’s Club run. She hits the gym as soon as she’s done with work, and she meal preps. As a result, McDaniels has lost at least 58 pounds, but it’s the habit changes that mean the most to her. “That’s the thing about my health journey: My mind feels more at peace, and I’m able to meal plan and feel more organized and prepared for the day,” she says.
Researchers are also studying semaglutide — the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic — for its potential to help people quit smoking and curb alcohol cravings. We’re still a long way from these medications being prescribed for addiction, but, anecdotally, people I’ve spoken to are already seeing their effects. While some people describe experiencing “food noise” — constant, intrusive thoughts about food that tend to quiet down on these medications — Johnna Byrd had “alcohol noise.” After her son was born in 2023, she weighed 350 pounds and was a self-described alcoholic. But taking compounded tirzepatide, her cravings turned to “complete silence,” Byrd previously told Yahoo.
3. It’s not all about vanity
It’s easy to assume that people taking weight loss drugs are simply in pursuit of thinness. But don’t. Every person I’ve spoken to about taking these medications has emphasized that, whether or not they had diagnosed health conditions, they simply wanted to feel better — and did, after taking a GLP-1. Renata D’Agrella, for example, told me she loved her body before taking Zepbound. In fact, she feared that her hundreds of thousands of social media followers would feel betrayed by her weight loss journey because her content had always been body-positive. But beyond the camera lens, 28-year-old D’Agrella was in physical pain and ultimately decided she had to prioritize her health. Her aches, anxieties and “crippling” food noise were all quelled with the help of a GLP-1.
After a lifelong struggle with polycystic ovarian syndrome, a chronic condition that can cause women pain and infertility, in addition to weight gain, it was a GLP-1 that finally gave Branneisha Cooper hope. For her, weight loss was great, but getting her period back? That’s been the real win. Cooper’s doctor even told her she can likely have a healthy pregnancy now. And even better: She’s broken a generational curse. Most of Cooper’s family has suffered from type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related conditions. Now, many of them are on GLP-1s and seeing improvements to their health too. “It’s impacted not only me, but my family. Selfishly, I want my mom and grandparents to be around longer, so it’s been a huge blessing,” she previously told Yahoo.
4. Protein is priority (but eat your fruits and veggies too)
As you may have noticed, we’re in our protein era. Celebrities, from Khloe Kardashian to Venus Williams, are launching or promoting protein shakes, powder, popcorn and more. While our current protein obsession isn’t entirely the result of the surging popularity of GLP-1s, they likely have something to do with it. Here’s why: People taking GLP-1s who drop a significant amount of weight are at risk of losing muscle as well as fat. To counteract that, eating plenty of protein is key.
GLP-1 users have created communities online where they share tips on the best high-protein low-fat fast food options, their hacks for protein coffee (aka “proffee”) and easy-to-make air fryer meals. Many people I’ve spoken to prepare for their weekly shot days — after which the effects of GLP-1s may feel strongest — by super-loading on protein, which doesn’t just help prevent muscle loss but can also reduce side effects, including nausea. But protein alone isn’t enough. While on these medications, each meal needs to pack the fullest nutritional punch possible so that people get enough of all the essential nutrients.
