Thinking About Ozempic or GLP-1 Alternatives? Here’s What We Want You to Know
If you're exploring Ozempic and GLP-1 alternatives, you're not alone.
At CV Wellbeing, we believe every person deserves informed choices and respectful, evidence-based care. We also believe that a peaceful relationship with food isn’t something that can come from medication alone.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic, along with other GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro, was originally created to support blood sugar regulation for people with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 medications work by mimicking a hormone that affects insulin release, slows stomach emptying, and influences hunger cues.
More recently, they’ve gained attention for their effect of suppressing appetite and supporting weight loss, leading to FDA approvals for weight management and widespread off-label use. However, the evidence for their use in weight loss alone is still limited, especially when it comes to long-term outcomes and sustainability (MSSI GLP-1 Informed Consent Handout, 2023).
We understand that for some people, these medications can feel helpful or even necessary. At the same time, they aren't a fix for the emotional and behavioral pieces of eating, and they often don’t address the deeper reasons people struggle with food.
How GLP-1s Affect the Body
Because GLP-1s slow down digestion, many people experience gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. For some, this discomfort is so severe that they stop taking the medication altogether. Preparing the gut for optimal tolerance through hydration, balanced intake, and gentle nutrition practices can sometimes reduce these effects.
There are also broader implications:
Hormones & blood sugar: For people without diabetes, these medications may create a risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This is done by the drug’s action to stimulate insulin secretion in the pancreas, which reduces the sugar in the bloodstream. When blood sugar levels are “normal” at baseline, this creates a higher risk of the blood sugar going too low, which has a domino effect of producing additional health concerns and risks.
Muscle mass: Research shows that 25–39% of weight lost with GLP-1 medications may come from lean body mass, including muscle (The Lancet). Muscle loss can weaken the body, affect mobility, and impact blood sugar control.
Adequacy of intake: Because appetite declines and the gut slows down, it’s easy to eat far less than the body truly needs. A large 2025 study found that more than 20% of GLP-1 users developed nutritional deficiencies within a year, with vitamin D deficiency being most common (PubMed). Too often, clients are praised for eating only once a day or “never feeling hungry anymore.” In both outpatient and hospital settings, dietitians are identifying malnutrition in individuals taking GLP-1 agonists.
Some studies suggest that functional ability may improve despite these risks (TCTMD), while others raise concerns about long-term effects on sarcopenia and cardiorespiratory health (UVA Health). The bottom line is that this is a developing area of research, and individualized support is essential.
Safety Note on Third-Party Subscription Services
It’s also important to talk about where these medications are obtained. Increasingly, third-party subscription services are advertising compounded or “alternative” versions of GLP-1s online. These products are not FDA-approved or regulated, which means there’s no guarantee of purity, safety, or consistency. In some cases, people have received medications that are ineffective or even harmful.
For your safety, always go through your licensed healthcare provider or a pharmacy they recommend. This ensures you’re receiving a regulated prescription, proper monitoring, and accurate education about potential side effects.
Our Take
We do not believe that GLP-1 medications like Ozempic can repair a disconnected or stressful relationship with food. That work is often much more personal, and it involves more than a suppressed appetite. It can include unlearning harmful beliefs, untangling past experiences, and slowly rebuilding trust with your body. We recommend building a toolbox of behaviors and resources that, while they may not give you that “quick result”, are attainable and sustainable long-term.
That said, we’re not here to shame or judge anyone’s choices. We support autonomy and body respect. If a client chooses to take one of these medications, we walk alongside them with curiosity and care.
A Weight-Inclusive Lens
We also want to name the harm that can happen when GLP-1 medications are used in the pursuit of thinness at all costs. Many people are prescribed these medications without informed consent regarding side effects, long-term sustainability, or the impact on mental health. Others are told they “should” go on them simply because of their body size, regardless of whether there is a true medical indication.
As a team grounded in Health at Every Size® (HAES®) principles, we don’t use weight as the sole marker of health. We focus on behaviors, not bodies. That means we work with clients to understand how they’re nourishing themselves, not how much they weigh.
If You're Considering a GLP-1…
Here are a few questions we encourage you to explore:
What are my goals with this medication, and are they rooted in external pressure or personal values?
How might this medication impact my relationship with food, hunger, or movement?
Have I received clear, non-stigmatizing education about side effects and outcomes?
Do I feel like I have space to say yes or no without judgment?
You can read more from the MSSI GLP-1 Informed Consent Handout (2023), which outlines risks, benefits, and questions to ask your provider.
When People Reach Out to Us
Anecdotally, we’ve noticed two common moments when clients reach out:
Before starting a GLP-1: Some want support ahead of time, recognizing that their relationship with food has been a source of stress and wanting to address it “all at once.”
After starting a GLP-1: Others realize that they don’t feel well, or that food has become sad, scary, or confusing. They want a place to sort it out with guidance and compassion.
Wherever you fall, your journey is valid. Whether you’re taking a GLP-1 medication, considering it, or firmly not interested, you don’t need to explain or justify your choices to receive support. We work with people who are on these medications and those who aren’t. Our job is not to persuade you either way. It’s to help you feel more grounded, informed, and empowered in your body.
If you're looking for a safe place to explore nutrition, food behaviors, and body image without shame, you're in the right place. We offer virtual nutrition counseling for clients across New England. Our approach is rooted in intuitive eating, medical nutrition therapy, and the belief that health is personal. Reach out to get started!
