GLP-1 medications are now a major topic in health care and the news. These drugs can help people manage type 2 diabetes and lose weight. Researchers are also studying how they may help with other health problems.
What are GLP-1 medications? How do they work? What should you know about their benefits, side effects, and risks?
Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program, explains the basics of GLP-1 medications.
What are GLP-1 medications?
GLP-1 medications act like a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1.
The small intestine releases GLP-1. This hormone helps control blood sugar. It also helps people feel full after eating.
Researchers began studying gut hormones many years ago. They found that natural GLP-1 breaks down fast in the body. They later made forms that last longer and can be used as drugs.
Most GLP-1 drugs are peptides. Peptides are made from the same building blocks as proteins. Some newer drugs are not peptides. They can still target the same GLP-1 receptor in the body.
Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program
How do GLP-1 medications work?
GLP-1 medications affect several parts of the body. They can help:
- Manage blood sugar: GLP-1 affects the pancreas and liver. Both help control blood sugar.
- Help you feel full: The drugs can help people feel full after eating.
- Slow digestion: The drugs slow the speed at which food moves through the digestive system.
- Support weight loss: Feeling full longer can help people eat less and lose weight.
The first GLP-1 drugs were mainly used for type 2 diabetes. Doctors then noticed that with improvement in diabetes that many patients also lost weight.
Researchers are now studying other ways these drugs may help with other chronic health conditions, says Dr. Srinath.
What are the approved uses of GLP-1 medications?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved GLP-1 medications for these uses:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity and weight management
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Heart disease
- Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a form of liver disease
- Reducing certain heart and kidney risks in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease
Some GLP-1 drugs are shots, and some are pills. Not every drug is approved for every use. The table below lists approved drugs, key brand names, and uses*.
| Active ingredient | Key brand names | FDA-approved uses |
| Semaglutide | Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus | Type 2 diabetes; weight management; heart and kidney risk reduction; MASH |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro, Zepbound | Type 2 diabetes; weight management; obstructive sleep apnea; heart risk reduction |
| Liraglutide | Victoza, Saxenda | Type 2 diabetes; weight management; heart risk reduction |
| Dulaglutide | Trulicity | Type 2 diabetes; heart risk reduction |
| Orforglipron | Foundayo | Weight management |
*Information accurate as of September 1, 2026.
What other uses are being studied?
Scientists are studying whether GLP-1 drugs may help with other health problems. Research includes:
- Osteoarthritis
- Autoimmune diseases, including some skin conditions
- Cancer
- Brain conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
Why might one type of drug affect so many parts of the body? “There may not be one simple answer,” says Dr. Srinath.
Weight loss can improve some long-term health problems. Researchers are also studying how GLP-1 drugs may affect inflammation. Inflammation plays a role in many long-term diseases.
Scientists may find more ways these drugs can help. But more research is needed. We do not yet know if they are safe and effective for these other uses.
What are the most common GLP-1 side effects?
The most common side effects affect the digestive system. They include:
- Nausea
- Acid reflux
- Constipation
Side effects may start soon after treatment begins. They often get better as the body gets used to the drug.
Side effects may come back when the dose goes up, says Dr. Srinath. Talk to your health care provider if they do not go away or worry you.
Are GLP-1 medications safe long term?
“GLP-1 medications are not brand-new drugs,” says Dr. Srinath.
These drugs have been used for diabetes for many years. Thousands of patients have also taken part in studies. Doctors have a large amount of information about their safety and side effects.
Still, newer GLP-1 drugs do not have decades of safety data. Researchers continue to study their long-term effects as more people use them.
Dr. Srinath says more long-term safety data is still needed. For now, she says the evidence is reassuring and the benefits outweigh any risks.
What are common concerns about GLP-1 medications?
As these drugs have become more popular, people have asked more questions about their effects. Here is what we know about some common concerns.
Are GLP-1 medications a “magic” weight-loss drug?
No. GLP-1 drugs can be strong tools, but a healthy lifestyle is also important, says Dr. Srinath.
Healthy eating and exercise still matter. Dr. Srinath recommends enough protein, fiber, and water each day. Limiting highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol can also help.
The drugs also do not work the same for everyone. Some people in clinical trials did not get the same results as others. GLP-1 drugs are not a guaranteed solution, says Dr. Srinath.
Do GLP-1 medications cause muscle loss?
Muscle loss is a common concern, especially when these drugs are used for weight loss.
“The bottom line is this: You are going to lose muscle no matter how you lose weight,” says Dr. Srinath.
About one-quarter of the weight a person loses may be muscle, while most of the rest is fat, says Dr. Srinath. She notes that muscle loss can happen with any type of weight loss, not just with GLP-1 medications.
Researchers are still studying what this muscle loss may mean. They do not yet know if it affects strength or how well a person can move.
For now, Dr. Srinath recommends staying active. She also recommends exercises that build and keep muscle. Getting enough protein is important too.
Can GLP-1 medications damage the heart?
Current data does not show that GLP-1 drugs damage heart muscle. In fact, some GLP-1 drugs have shown benefits for the heart, says Dr. Srinath.
Research is still underway. But current evidence does not suggest that muscle loss from these drugs weakens the heart.
Can GLP-1 medications affect your eyes?
Some studies have found a possible link to a rare eye problem. This problem affects blood flow to the optic nerve.
“That is an area of ongoing research, and while it is such a low risk, it is something I do tell patients about,” says Dr. Srinath. “I do think the benefits here outweigh any eye risks, though.”
Talk to your health care provider if you notice changes in your vision. You may also need to see an eye doctor.
Do not ignore new vision problems. Do not stop a prescribed drug before you talk to your health care provider.
What are compounded GLP-1 medications?
Some people use compounded GLP-1 drugs. These drugs may cost less and may be easier to get. They are often sold through compounding pharmacies and online health services.
Compounding pharmacies make drugs for individual patients. They do not supply the finished drug made by the original drug maker.
Compounded GLP-1 drugs are not the same as FDA-approved brand-name drugs, says Dr. Srinath. They do not go through the same FDA review for safety, quality, and how well they work.
Concerns about compounded GLP-1 drugs include:
- The amount of active drug in a dose
- The strength of the drug
- Added ingredients, such as preservatives, vitamins, or supplements
- Differences in quality between pharmacies
Dr. Srinath says some patients have received doses that were too strong or not strong enough. She says it can be hard to know how safe or effective a specific compounded drug may be.
Dr. Srinath recommends FDA-approved brand-name drugs when possible.
Cost and insurance coverage can make these drugs hard to get. This can lead some people to seek compounded drugs instead.
If you use a compounded GLP-1 drug, Dr. Srinath recommends care from a health care provider. This may be an endocrinologist, a weight management specialist, or a primary care provider.