As an integrative, functional medicine doctor and certified life coach, I guide people toward health through nutrition, movement, stress reduction, and mindset. But I also prescribe medications like semaglutide (Wegovy/Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) for weight loss. That might seem at odds with holistic medicine—but it’s not. It reflects a deeper understanding of what holds people back from well-being, including how they feel in their bodies and how society sees them.
We live in a culture obsessed with appearance and weight. For many, shame and stigma—not lack of knowledge or effort—are the real barriers to change. GLP-1 agonists aren’t magic pills, but they can be powerful tools to remove some of those barriers.
Understanding GLP-1 Agonists
Originally developed for diabetes, GLP-1 medications mimic hormones that help regulate appetite and blood sugar. In studies, semaglutide helped people lose about 15% of their body weight, while tirzepatide led to up to 21%—results previously only seen with bariatric surgery. These drugs also improve blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Side effects like nausea or appetite loss are common early on but often improve. Serious risks are rare. When used under supervision, GLP-1 agonists are safe and effective for many.
“The Easy Way Out” and Other Misconceptions
Despite strong evidence, these medications are often judged harshly—seen as a shortcut or cosmetic fix. But that judgment reflects bias. No one accuses a person with high blood pressure of being lazy for taking medication. Yet with weight, we expect people to rely on willpower alone. That belief is not only false—it’s harmful.
Many of my patients have tried everything. They’re working hard, but the biology of weight is complex. These medications don’t replace healthy habits—they make them easier to sustain. For some, it’s the first time they feel like change is truly possible.
Celebrity Culture and Public Perception
When GLP-1 drugs hit the spotlight—thanks to celebrity use and social media—they quickly became associated with vanity and trend-chasing. This clouded the reality: these medications treat a chronic disease, not a fashion problem. The hype led to backlash, and a new form of stigma emerged: “Ozempic shaming,” where people feel judged for taking a legitimate treatment.
Even within integrative medicine circles, there’s skepticism. Some worry these drugs bypass deeper issues. Others raise concerns about gut health where the microbiome may be negatively impacted, like possible links to SIBO due to slower digestion. These are fair considerations, but they don’t outweigh the well-documented benefits from GLP-1s. With the right patient, support, and monitoring, GLP-1s are a valid part of a comprehensive care plan.
The Deeper Cost of Weight Stigma
Weight stigma isn’t just hurtful—it’s harmful. Research shows that people who experience weight bias have higher risks of anxiety, depression, and even metabolic disease. Shame doesn’t motivate—it isolates. It leads to stress-eating, skipped doctor visits, and avoidance of movement.
Meanwhile, those who do lose weight often report being treated better by society—but also feel grief over how they were treated before. That psychological burden matters. As a physician, I’ve seen the way stigma steals health—not just through physical illness, but through emotional erosion.
Healing Is Personal
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Weight is not just a number. It intersects with identity, trauma, and mental health. For some, GLP-1s provide a path forward when everything else has failed. They act as a bridge—not a crutch—to sustainable change.
Behavior change takes belief. Many patients have internalized failure. But losing even a modest amount of weight can restore hope and create momentum. When my patients are no longer constantly hungry or ashamed, they can focus on building habits that last. And that’s where real healing begins.
Risk, Reward, and Perspective
Critics say GLP-1s are risky. But compared to what? Many common medications have similar or greater side effects. And the risks of untreated obesity—diabetes, heart disease, cancer—are far more dangerous.
Is it cosmetic or medical? For someone with a body mass index (BMI) over 35 and metabolic issues, it’s clearly medical. But even someone with a lower BMI who experiences distress, fatigue, or social stigma from their weight deserves care. Mental health is health.
We don’t dismiss acne treatments as vain because they help people feel better in their skin. We shouldn’t dismiss GLP-1s either.
Integrating Tools with Intention
In my practice, I pair GLP-1s with deep support: coaching, nutrition, sleep, movement, and emotional work. I don’t offer them casually or universally. But for the right person, they offer hope.
My goal isn’t just weight loss. It’s liberation. I’ve seen a woman reverse prediabetes and reclaim her confidence. A man who finally played soccer with his kids again. A patient who cried in my office because—for the first time in decades—she felt at home in her body.
Conclusion: Medicine with Compassion
To me, offering GLP-1s isn’t giving up on integrative care—it’s deepening it. Integrative medicine means using every appropriate tool to heal the whole person. If a medication helps someone reclaim health, function, and self-worth, why wouldn’t I offer it?
This is not about chasing thinness. It’s about restoring agency. It’s about honoring that sometimes the greatest act of healing is to give people a way forward—especially when they’ve already tried everything else.
That’s not the easy way out. That’s medicine.