Can you lose weight without jumping on the treadmill? That’s the dream.
Especially if you’re hoping for 2026. ozempic santa (Except for the tech billionaire part).
But what happens when that dream disappears?
Encounter with GLP-1
Weight loss drugs contain active compounds called. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (RA).
Originally developed for treatment type 2 diabetesresearchers discovered a useful side effect: weight loss.
Ozempic, Wegovy (semaglutide), and Saxenda (liraglutide) are just a few examples of current GLP-1 RAs sold in australia.
Credit: Michael Siluk/Getty Images
borrowed biology
GLP-1 is a hormone that helps stimulate insulin production Lowers and stabilizes blood sugar levels after meals, minimizing hunger signals.
Weight loss drugs mimic this hormone, taking its natural form and making it more stable.
GLP-1 RAs work by: central nervous systemaffects the appetite center of the brain.
Suppresses appetite by increasing the effect of leptin – Our satiety hormone.
The hormone peptide YY is also enhanced, slowing stomach emptying and making you feel full longer.
changes in internal organs
Weight loss drugs don’t just affect your appetite.
Obese people often have chronic inflammation in their adipose tissue, which can lead to insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction.
visceral fat Fat around our internal organs is one of the main causes of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
GLP-1 RA actually helps on both fronts.
These help reduce inflammation in this adipose tissue and redistribute visceral fat away from the internal organs and closer to the skin.
The question is, how long will these benefits last?
It may not be the answer we all expected.
credit: Moiz et al., 2025 (CC BY-NC 4.0)
false start
a 2026 reviews and meta-analyses More than 9,000 participants from 37 studies found that they gained back an average of 0.4 kg per month after stopping weight loss drugs.
moreover, positive effect The drug’s effects on the heart and metabolic health were reversed.
This review predicted that both weight and risk markers for type 2 diabetes and heart disease would return to pre-treatment levels within 2 years.
People regained weight almost four times faster than after changing their diet and exercise.
Therefore, before buying a dream, read the fine print.