Myths and Facts: Using a GLP-1 for Weight Loss

Myth: You Don’t Have to Exercise

Although these medications can have a huge impact on weight loss, they aren't a magic solution. It's important that you also exercise regularly to help lose weight and keep it off. You should try to move for a total of at least 150 minutes each week, plus weight training two to three times a week. Exercise improves heart and lung health, muscle strength, and overall well-being.

Myth: What You Eat Doesn’t Matter

GLP-1s lower your appetite, but your body still needs good nutrition. Stick to healthy food choices so you know you're getting the nutrients you need. Choose fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy, and lean meats and other proteins. Limit the amount of sugar, saturated fat, and sodium in your meals.

Myth: You Don’t Take GLP-1s for Long

GLP-1 drugs that are approved for weight loss are designed for long-term use, just like cholesterol or blood pressure medicines, but your doctor may suggest slowly taking you off them at some point. If you stop taking them, there's a chance you'll regain some weight. GLP-1s make you feel full, so without them, you may eat more. But experts say a good exercise and nutrition plan can support long-term weight loss on and off these medications.

Myth: GLP-1s Can Give You Diabetes

This class of medications was originally made to treat type 2 diabetes but can't give you diabetes. In fact, they can lower your odds of getting the disease. Obesity is linked to a higher chance of diabetes, so weight loss may also help lower your odds of getting it.

Myth: Insurance Never Covers GLP-1s

GLP-1s can certainly be expensive. Without insurance, they can cost $900 to $1,400 a month. But sometimes, insurance will pay for at least some of this. And for about 25% of people, insurance will fully cover the meds. You can often find savings cards from the drugmaker to lower your out-of-pocket costs.

Myth: All Compounded GLP-1s Are Safe

Compound medications are versions of a drug that a licensed pharmacist or doctor custom-makes by combining, mixing, or altering its ingredients. You might use compounded GLP-1s from a compounding pharmacy for many reasons, including saving on costs. But those compounded versions aren't regulated the same as name-brand versions and aren't individually approved by the FDA. That means these individual batches aren't reviewed for safety, quality, or effectiveness the way mass-produced, name-brand drugs are. But there are services that compound safe GLP-1s. Always be sure to vet such services by seeing that your medicine is prescribed by your doctor and provided by a licensed pharmacy. If you see any red flags that it may be fraudulent — such as an incorrect address or misspellings on the label — contact your pharmacy. 

A doctor can't prescribe compounded GLP-1s in the same dosages as the FDA-approved versions. Instead, they can prescribe compounded versions that are different from the commercially available product. Also, keep in mind that most compounded GLP-1 options require you to learn how to give the medication with a syringe and needle. This is different from the FDA-approved GLP-1s for weight loss, which come in prefilled injection pens.

Myth: Microdosing Is a Safe Option

On social media, you may have seen buzz about microdosing GLP-1s. That's when you take a smaller amount of medication than the prescribed dose in hopes of getting benefits without side effects and cost. There is no robust evidence that this works well. Plus, GLP-1s come in prepackaged, measured syringes. When you divide that into smaller doses, you have no control over the amount of medicine you get, and you can raise your chances of infection from reusing the syringe.

Myth: GLP-1s Only Make You Lose Fat

Yes, when you lose weight, you lose stored fat. But you can also lose muscle mass. That's why it's important to make sure you exercise. It's an especially good idea to do some strength training with weights or resistance training. That helps keep or build muscle mass and can help you have less saggy skin that can come with weight loss.

Myth: GLP-1s Are Always Safe to Buy Online

There are a lot of online pharmacies that advertise GLP-1 medications or copycats that you can buy directly online without a prescription. But there's no oversight for those meds, and about 95% of them operate illegally, according to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. These illegal services don't have access to your medical records, unlike those prescribed by your doctor, who knows your history and can track your progress and any side effects. But there are legitimate services that provide telehealth care and sell safe compound GLP-1s, such as those certified by a third-party group like LegitScript. Carefully check out online compound pharmacies for red flags.

Some red flags may include:

• Misspellings or other errors on the label
• Warnings like "not for human consumption" or "for research purposes only" on the label
• The online pharmacy says you don't need a prescription
• Very low prices