Updated: March 8th, 2026
- Medications for weight loss aren’t the “miracle solution” many present them to be
- The push to prescribe semaglutides and tezepatides often comes from those who stand to profit most.
- Weight loss drugs have long term impacts – including serious side effects.
- Weight loss through medication is often temporary; if you stop taking the medication, the weight comes back.
- Lifestyle changes are essential for long term success.
“I have so many friends who swear by Ozempic. Can’t I just try that?” Tiffany looked hopeful when she asked this in our consultation, and crestfallen when I said it wasn’t the best solution.
I have interactions like this so often since drugs like Ozempic hit the market. Originally formulated to control diabetes, these drugs were used off-label after the unexpected benefit of weight loss was discovered in some research participants. Now, similar drugs have been created and approved to manage weight -and everybody wants them!
I get it. A “quick fix” is appealing, especially when nothing else has worked. But I do not think this is the solution. These prescriptions come with some big problems, including the possibility of some pretty serious side effects.
Let’s take a look at how these drugs work, and why they have caused such a stir. Then I’ll give you three good reasons to explore a better, lasting approach to weight loss.
How do weight loss drugs work?
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, was developed as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. It’s part of a class of medications called GLP-1 RAs, and it works by mimicking the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone in your body. Ozempic lowers blood sugar in a few ways: it increases the insulin your body produces after eating, decreases glucagon released into your blood, and slows the move of food to your stomach, helping avoid sharp blood sugar increases after eating. Semaglutide also suppresses the appetite and reduces cravings, along with slowing the rate at which the stomach empties, which can leave you feeling full longer
Tirzepatide works in similar ways, mimicking GLP-1 and GIP, another hormone. Tirzepatide also helps decrease hunger signals to the brain.
Research has shown some significant weight loss results with both treatments when paired with lifestyle changes. While many tout that as great news, I have some serious concerns about prescriptions as a go-to weight loss solution.
3 Reasons to Give Serious Thought to Weight Loss Drugs as a Solution
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That’s why use of semaglutide or tirzepatide for weight loss shouldn’t be a decision made lightly. While it may be the right solution for some, it’s certainly not the “miracle” some have made it out to be. Here are three things you should think about as you consider prescription weight loss drugs.
1. Risk of serious side effects
It’s not worth it to drop a bunch of weight, but end up with other major health issues. Both semaglutide and tirzepatide carry a safety warning about the possibility of thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. That may a rare, worst-case situation, but there are many common side effects that can make life miserable, including dizziness; major gastrointestinal problems like constipation, excess gas, and diarrhea; headaches; fatigue; and abdominal trouble such as nausea, bloating and pain.
If those impacts seem worth it to lose stubborn weight, you should also know about some more serious impacts.
As of June 2024, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) had received over 22,000 reports of problems with semaglutide drugs and over 1,000,000 reports concerning tirzepatide. Hundreds of lawsuits against the companies that manufacture Ozempic and Mounjaro have been filed because of gastroparesis, a chronic condition that weakens the nerves and muscles in the stomach. Gastroparesis can lead to intestinal blockages and obstruction which cause serious health issues.
Additonally, there have been reports of other serious side effects including: vision problems, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, suicidal ideation, pancreatitis, kidney damage, increased risk of gallbladder disease, blocked intestines, increased heart rate, and increase risk of fractures. That’s a lot of potentially serious problems to consider!
Do those sound like risks you are willing to take to lose 20 or 30 pound? I certainly hope not, because much better options exist.
2. Who wants you to take weight loss drugs?
One of the best things you can do when considering a prescription of any kind is to follow the money. Weight loss drugs can be very expensive, and when prescribed off-label, your insurance company might not approve them. And you’re likely to have to stay on them for the rest of your life to sustain the results. That’s because GLP-1 medications are designed to treat chronic conditions like diabetes; they are built for long-term use.
Research shows that ⅔ of the participants taking semaglutide for weight loss re-gained the lost weight, and then some, when they discontinued use. A study on tirzepatide had similar results, with participants gaining 14% of lost weight back after 36 weeks while on a placebo.
So think about this. Who has a vested interest in keeping you on a costly drug forever? It’s an obvious answer: the manufacturers who profit from them. Of course they’re pushing them to health care providers!
And that’s not the only way the pharmaceutical industry is impacting the popularity of semaglutide for weight loss. Even Oprah and Weight Watchers have jumped on board, using experts to talk about how these prescriptions can stop cravings, suppress appetite, and keep people on their diets. And guess who paid those experts?
3. Unless lifestyle changes are part of the program, you may not get the desired impact of these drugs.
Many people do have amazing results initially when using semaglutide/tirzepatide for weight loss – but for long term results, lifestyle interventions are essential. So even if you have obesity and may otherwise be a good candidate for the drug, you must also be committed to making changes in your lifestyle. Otherwise, it’s an uphill battle; you’re exposing yourself to all the risks with no realistic expectation of long term benefits.
Willpower isn’t enough to make that commitment; the food industry works hard to keep you unhealthy! The rise of processed foods has destroyed Americans’ health, and they’re incredibly difficult to avoid. Obesity rates have skyrocketed since processed foods became the convenient norm, and there’s no easy way out of it. The industry spends billions marketing these products, and labels are designed to confuse you. Here’s the truth: anything with ingredients you can’t pronounce is not a healthy choice.
Then there’s the food noise in your brain. Emotional experiences and past trauma has wired our brains to believe we need to eat when we aren’t even hungry. Neurotransmitter imbalances are also at play. Weight loss drugs can “turn off” the noise, but only temporarily. Unless you are processing that trauma, testing and treating the neurotransmitters, when you stop using the medication, the noise returns.
Changing your lifestyle habits is hard work, and if well known companies are telling you these drugs are the answer, you might start to believe that lifestyle habits don’t matter – and that’s just not true!
Good alternatives to weight loss drugs
Weight loss has never been simple, no matter how much we want it to be. It’s easy to get pulled into the hype around semaglutide/tirzepatide regarding weight loss – especially if all your friends are having success. I’m sure Tiffany hoped I’d just say “Go for it,” but I just can’t do that.
I did give Tiffany hope, however, when I told her that there IS a way to lose weight quickly – and keep it off! I’ve been helping women lose weight for decades, and have plenty of lower cost, short term recommendations that don’t come with those serious side effects.
My Drop20 Now program stops cravings, eliminates food noise, and decreases hunger. You can lose weight safely and quickly, with personal support. A drug won’t give you that!
I also encourage you to explore the articles about weight loss in my health library. These articles cover factors that contribute to weight gain and difficulty losing weight, and offer practical suggestions for jump starting your weight loss journey. You can lose weight in healthy ways – without a lifelong prescription!
