Named Science’s 2023 Breakthrough of the Year, it’s fair to say GLP-1 drugs are having a moment. But will this moment become a full-on era in the years to come and what will that mean for society at large? Let’s dive in.
Unexpected Origins
Like penicillin and pacemakers before, GLP-1 agonists were discovered by accident—at least for treating obesity. The hormone was first identified in the early 1980s as a potential medication for type 2 diabetes, but it wasn’t until the mid-2000s when drugmakers noticed an unanticipated side effect: weight loss.
The GLP-1 Gold Rush
With roughly 2 out of 3 American adults classified as overweight or obese, it’s easy to see why weight loss went from side effect to main event in no time.
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Morgan Stanley predicts the global market for anti-obesity drugs will jump from $2.5B to a staggering $50B by 2030, with 7% of the US population contributing to that.
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Telehealth services like Calibrate, Noom, Ro, Hims & Hers, and WeightWatchers have all announced GLP-1 treatments in the last year.
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Even gyms are getting in on the action with Life Time launching a prescription pilot program and Equinox offering tailored workouts for clients taking GLP-1s.
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Finally, big food companies like Nestlé and General Mills are developing GLP-1 companion products.
A Natural Alternative?
Amid the frenzy, it's easy to forget that GLP-1 drugs are named after the gut hormone they mimic—glucagon-like peptide-1. Both drug and hormone work by signaling the brain to reduce appetite and stimulating insulin secretion, which in turn regulates metabolism.
In other words, your body already has a built-in weight loss system and it can be triggered by eating certain foods. According to NPR, the best food for stimulating GLP-1 is none other than fiber—specifically prebiotic fibers like beta-glucan (found in Supergut), which induces more weight loss than others.
What Comes Next
In some ways, the rise of GLP-1 drugs is a classic case of “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Weight management is complex and even as so-called miracle drugs proliferate, the reality is there’s no such thing as a silver bullet solution.
That’s why both gyms and food companies are developing companion products. Because without changing underlying fitness and nutrition habits, pharmaceuticals can only do so much—as clinical studies around weight regain have shown.
Final Word
GLP-1 drugs will almost certainly play a bigger role moving forward. Yet it's crucial to acknowledge the irreplaceable role of diet and exercise for creating sustainable habits and results. If you’re interested in trying gut healthy superfoods that boost GLP-1 naturally, use code GUTCHECK for 20% off.
