Despite concerns from early rodent studies, a recent meta-analysis of over 14,000 people concluded there was no significant risk for thyroid cancer associated with semaglutide.

A newer medication called Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, works on two receptors at once and appears to produce even stronger weight loss effects than Ozempic.

For every five-unit increase of BMI above 25, the risk of death from all causes is about 30% higher.

While GLP-1s increase the risk of gallstones by 27%, this only elevates the absolute risk from about 15% to a 19% chance in the general population.

Adding resistance training to a calorie-restricted diet was found to cut the associated lean muscle mass loss in half.

Compared to weight loss from calorie restriction alone, the semaglutide trial showed proportionally lower lean muscle mass loss for a much larger percentage of total weight lost.

GLP-1 medications generally need to be used long-term, as studies show weight will usually return if patients stop taking them, similar to cholesterol medication.

Some doctors prescribing GLP-1 medications after only a short questionnaire are engaging in a practice likened to drug dealing, not medicine.