Unlock exclusive discounts on training sessions!
What is GLP-1?
Ozempic & Mounjaro does not simply "switch off hunger." They alter one of the body's key regulatory hormones, triggering a cascade of physiological changes that affect multiple organs and systems
Kobbii Nyarko
7/22/20263 min read
GLP-1 is an hormone released primarily in the lower small intestine and large intestine after food is eaten. It belongs to a group of hormones that prepare the body to process nutrients after a meal, and its primary job is to establish a communication line between the gut, stomach, pancreas, liver, and brain. This communication ensures energy is managed efficiently.
Below illustrates the hormone pathway of GLP-1:
The key reasons why people use shots of Ozempic and Mounjaro is to remove hunger. But what most don’t realise is that hormones are the body's conductors. They don't perform the work themselves - they coordinate the work of different organs. So when we artificially increase or decrease one hormone, we're not just changing one function; we're asking the entire orchestra to play differently.
Here are some examples of changes that take place in the gut and brain when using Ozempic and Mounjaro:
Nutrient Absorption Delays
Delayed emptying of the stomach slows absorption of carbohydrates for energy, amino acids (protein), as well as crucial vitamins and minerals. If you’re not eating enough, nutrient deficiencies will begin to manifest across the body.
Gastrointestinal Problems
Imagine food you’ve eaten rotting in your stomach for extended periods. This can cause a variety of issues including severe bloating, indigestion, acid reflux, abdominal pain, dehydration, and vomiting undigested food.
Gallstones
Rapid weight loss reduces gallbladder contractions meaning bile sits in the gallbladder for longer. This increases the chance of inflammation and gallstones.
Eating Below Energy Needs
Inadequate calorie intake can lead to fatigue, reductions in physical and mental performance, and slower recovery.
Emotional Breakdowns
At this present time, there is no conclusive research that has linked any of these drugs to emotion. However science would indicate that lack of glucose to the brain and reduced enjoyment of food has an effect of mood. Besides this a lack of energy due to delayed emptying of the stomach can have a negative effect on motivation and productivity.
--
It is important to understand that Ozempic & Mounjaro does not simply "switch off hunger." They alter one of the body's key regulatory hormones, triggering a cascade of physiological changes that affect multiple organs and systems.
Weight loss should not be viewed as the ultimate measure of health. Sustainable health is built on preserving metabolic function, supporting cardiovascular health, maintaining muscle mass, and ensuring the body receives the nutrients it needs to function optimally. Achieving rapid weight loss at the expense of these factors may create new health challenges while masking the underlying causes of weight gain.
The safest and most effective long-term approach to weight management is lifestyle change. Regular physical activity and structured exercise improves insulin sensitivity, strengthen the heart, increase muscle mass, enhance metabolic health, and naturally help regulate appetite without artificially overriding the body's hormonal signalling. Combined with a balanced, nutrient-dense diet that provides adequate protein, fibre, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, these habits address the root causes of excess weight rather than simply suppressing the desire to eat.
Unlike medication alone, healthy lifestyle habits provide benefits that extend far beyond the number on the scales. They improve energy levels, mental wellbeing, mobility, sleep quality, immune function, and overall quality of life while reducing the risk of/reversing lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.
Rather than searching for a shortcut, the goal should be to build a body that functions well for life. Lasting health is most reliably achieved through consistent movement, purposeful exercise, and a nutritious diet that works with the body's natural physiology—not against it.
THIRSTY FOR MORE KNOWLEDGE?
Check out more blogs from PT Kob below
