Most people by now are aware or familiar with GLP-1s and their widespread use in society. To give some examples, Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound are all GLP-1s. A majority of people can either name someone they know taking one or they themselves are on one. For the small percentage of people that don't know what a GLP-1 is, it is a peptide taken through an injection once a week to induce weight loss via appetite suppression. Out of all the weight loss drugs that are legal and I have seen in my training career, this drug is by far the most effective one.

Now, my stance on GLP-1's is pretty reasonable. I think in certain circumstances, with the right super vision and guidance, a GLP-1 can be beneficial. But I think we are about to see an explosion over the next 5-10 years of people taking it that don't necessarily need to. What I mean by that is, kids, teenagers, women postpartum, retired athletes, politicians are going to be taking this to lose weight. Again I think this drug has certain uses and certain benefits for the right people. But we should also be aware of unearned wisdom from this drug.

How can it be good for mass amounts of society to take GLP-1s and lose 20-30lbs without doing anything for it? What will the consequences be for not establishing better relationships with food? Or having a healthier lifestyle in general? To think of some side effects of this drug, I would start with how weak it could potentially make the population. Losing weight rapidly with no strength training guarantees that you will lose muscle along the way. So instead of a fat and weak society, we'll be a skinny and weak society. Sure we will solve some health issues but trade them in for others like osteoporosis. Other side effects to mention are perhaps behaviorally. To lose weight or build muscle and strength there has to be self sacrifice. Without it you can't do either of those. What will this drug do to the masses if we never learn self sacrifice. Or don't learn what to sacrifice in order to be fit and healthy?

The reason I decided to write this blog came from a commercial I saw recently on TV. The company running the advertisement was Ro. This ad was focused around GLP-1s through them. It also touted its ease of use, effectiveness, results and the biggest part of all it was pushed by Serena Williams. Serena was the focal point of the ad and she explained how it helped her lose 30lbs while being on it. This is why I wrote this blog. GLP-1s are slowly getting pushed to everyone from all angles now. It feels like it could be the new Subway ad with all the athletes they have promoting Subway.

Now Serena is a retired world class tennis player. She's made millions of dollars in her career and worked out for a living for over 20 years. Why does she need to go on the medication to lose just 20-30lbs? That seems ridiculous to me. You're telling me there is no trainer that couldn't help her lose those 20lbs? Not to mention, but are we also going to take her at her word for doing everything right to lose weight? In my experience everyone that has thought they're doing all the right things is missing something. It might be food related, hormones, sleep, you name it. So, beware of unearned wisdom and beware of how company's, advertisements and celebrities are going to push and make this drug the most mainstream of drugs to take over the next five years.