On next-gen GLP-1 drugs. “A mere decade ago, obesity drugs powerful enough for people to routinely drop double-digit percentages of their body weight were unheard-of. Today, there are two, and they feel ubiquitous.”
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I asked my doctor if I should go on them, since I routinely struggle with weight gain/loss (well, keeping it off, really, instead of the yo-yo'ing I've been doing for what seems like the last two decades). She advised against it, due to a host of side effects that are seldom mentioned (or glancingly mentioned, at best) in the near ubiquitous coverage of these miracle drugs.
She also said she had patients who GAINED weight while on them...and that they're not a sustainable solution, since the weight will come piling back on as soon as you stop taking them.
And then there's the cost, which can be its own burden even if insurance covers a portion of the treatments.
Her conclusion, ultimately (and obviously) is that like any fad drug or diet, they're not a substitute for lifestyle changes that will achieve better, healthier and long-lasting results. Even though it's harder. Much, much harder.
Wow. I think you should get a second opinion. While there are aspects of truth in some of her points, others are really misleading. Overall, she has a pretty extreme take. Wishing you the best in your journey.
I agree with Laura that you should get a second opinion. I've been on Zepbound for five months now; while YMMV of course, for me the side effects have been mostly mild (though the body does "regulate" when I do overeat), and I've lost about 35 pounds. I also hearily disagree with this being a "fad." My doctor explained it very well: this is a drug to treat a disease, metabolic disease, which leads to symptoms like obesity. Same as you may take a drug for high cholesterol or diabetes or any other chronic condition, this is treating a chronic disease. And also, you may not stop taking them. Again, like a chronic illness, it may be a lifetime supplement, though ideally at a minimal dose, or maybe just for a few years as your body's metabolism realigns.
I reached a stage in my life where I will admit I was quite overweight, obese, for many, many years. "Lifestyle change" sounds great, but when your metabolism is completely out of whack, even diet and exercise are a struggle, and often do not return the hoped-for results. This drug has allowed me to get to a stage where I can move my body and eat right and actually see results. I hesitate to use the word "miracle," but it really has been life-changing.
I appreciate the first-hand experiential feedback. I was a bit surprised at the full antithetical stance of these drugs by my PCP. Can either of you speak to cost? That's another area I feel misled on...I've heard everything from $150/injection to $1500/month...
You might find the GLP-1 subreddit helpful. Also, your health insurance may cover some of the cost; might be worth checking.
Yes! If it's not covered by your insurance, you get Zepbound direct from Lilly and you get vials and needles (it's actually very easy and nearly painless), it's $350/month for the initial 2.5mg dose (which is not considered "theraputic" though I did lose over 15 lbs on it) then anything 5mg and above is $500 a month. It's not cheap. But I have so far felt it worth the money.
Agree with Jason - I'm not on that subreddit specifically but am on r/zepbound and it's an incredibly helpful and supportive group.
Yes to the subreddits as mentioned above. I'm a big proponent of body liberation, so I also highly recommend the anti-diet GLP subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/antidietglp1/
Out-of-pocket costs for Zepbound were just lowered yesterday, which you can read about here: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/01/eli-lilly-prices-zepbound-weight-loss-drug-vials.html
And there are lots more related medications in the pipeline, as in the article Jason posted. They will also probably impact costs and insurance coverage down the line. Good luck!!!
My friend Matt posted his experience taking Zepbound.
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