GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have exploded into public consciousness as “weight-loss shots”—but what do they actually do inside the body, who are they really for, and what are the risks and benefits beyond the before-and-after photos?

In this episode of Health in Harlem, Dr. Maurice Selby and Reid Vero sit down with Dr. Mary Elizabeth Patti, endocrinologist and physician-scientist at Harvard and the Joslin Diabetes Center, to break down:

• How GLP-1 receptor agonists were developed and how they work

• Why obesity is a complex, biology-based disease—not a willpower problem

• Benefits beyond weight loss, including impact on diabetes, heart health, sleep apnea, kidney disease, and more CDC+1

• Real-world barriers to access (cost, coverage, side effects, and equity concerns)

• Safety questions around compounded and micro-dosed GLP-1 products Diabetes Journals+1

• Where GLP-1s fit alongside lifestyle changes and bariatric/metabolic surgery

The conversation also touches on stigma, body image, and why decisions about GLP-1 therapy should always be individualized and made with a trusted clinician.

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For listeners who want to dive deeper into GLP-1s, diabetes, obesity, and cardiometabolic health:

• CDC – Newer diabetes medicines (including GLP-1s): Overview of how GLP-1 medicines lower blood sugar, support weight loss, and protect the heart and kidneys CDC

• CDC – GLP-1 injectable use data brief (NHIS 2024): National data on GLP-1 use among adults with diabetes CDC+1

• American Diabetes Association (ADA): Guidance on GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 drugs, including a statement cautioning against non–FDA-approved compounded products American Diabetes Association+1

• Endocrine Society – Diabetes treatments & GLP-1 receptor agonists: Patient-focused explanations of how GLP-1s are used, including injectable and oral options Endocrine Society+1

• American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE): Updates on GLP-1s in obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and cancer risk reduction AACE+1

• American Heart Association (AHA): Professional summaries on GLP-1s and cardiovascular and kidney risk reduction in people with type 2 diabetes professional.heart.org+1

• National Library of Medicine (NCBI/MedlinePlus/StatPearls): In-depth clinical reviews of GLP-1 receptor agonists, their mechanisms, benefits, and adverse effects NCBI+2PMC+2

• FDA – Safety concerns with unapproved GLP-1 products: Important information on risks of non-approved or compounded GLP-1 drugs marketed for weight loss