Fact checked by Nick Blackmer
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- A new Health survey found that many people taking GLP-1s want more support than they’re currently receiving.
- More than 60% of users said they need additional emotional and lifestyle support.
- GLP-1 treatment can come with unique challenges, including how to adjust eating habits and exercise routines.
GLP-1 medications can dramatically affect your body—but many people taking them aren’t getting the support they need to manage those changes. A new survey commissioned by Health found that among 500 people using GLP-1s such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, most said they need more support to help them navigate treatment.
According to Chevon Rariy, MD, a triple-board-certified endocrinologist, internal medicine, and obesity medicine physician and chief medical technology officer at Visana Health, that finding reflects what clinicians who practice “comprehensive, whole-person care” have long known: “What’s missing for many patients is ongoing support, not just access to the medication,” she said.
An Overwhelming Need For More Support
Overall, the findings suggest that GLP-1 users are craving more resources during their treatment. While a majority of current users (62%)—roughly split between women and men, with 72% white, 15% Black, and 14% Hispanic—said they receive support from physicians and other medical professionals, many reported wanting more assistance with lifestyle changes, general challenges, and questions. In total, 72% said they'd like more tools and resources.
The survey found that additional resources might help people stay on the medication: 71% of 100 former users said it could have made a difference.
When asked, 66% of users said they need more support in two areas: emotional and lifestyle changes.
What GLP-1 Users Need
It makes sense that GLP-1 users are looking for more support, said Susan McClanahan, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist at SpringSource Psychological Center and assistant professor at Northwestern Medicine. Losing weight can feel great—most respondents indeed reported feeling more confident and self-assured—but it can also take a psychological toll.
“I don’t think doctors recognize the extent to which so much emotion is tied up in weight and weight management,” she told Health.
That dynamic was reflected in the survey: 22% of respondents said adjusting to their new reality was a particular challenge. Those struggles can manifest in a range of ways, McClanahan said, from finding new coping mechanisms to replace food to ongoing body image concerns, even after weight loss. Therapy can help people feel supported while also helping them build healthy behaviors, she added.
Beyond emotional support, many patients also need guidance on lifestyle habits after starting treatment—including how to approach to diet and nutrition, Rariy said. Because these medications can drastically reduce appetite, “patients may eat less overall but not necessarily eat better, leading to nutrient deficiencies if not properly managed,” she explained.
Another area that can be particularly confusing for people taking GLP-1s is the best way to exercise after starting treatment. A common side effect of GLP-1s is muscle loss, which can affect metabolic health and potentially undermine the medication's benefits, said Mark Kovacs, PhD, FACSM, CSCS, an exercise physiologist, certified strength coach, and CEO of the Kovacs Institute. It’s also particularly concerning for women in perimenopause and menopause, who are already at higher risk of losing muscle. Working with a certified trainer or physical therapist, however, can help people develop exercise routines to preserve muscle, he explained.
“What ‘real’ GLP-1 support looks like is a fully integrated approach,” Kovacs said. “The medication can initiate change, but it’s the training and lifestyle structure that ultimately determine whether those changes translate into improved healthspan and durability over time.”
How to Get the Support You Want
Ideally, patients would receive a comprehensive care plan that includes education, tailored nutrition and exercise guidance, side-effect management, and emotional support, with follow-up visits focused on reinforcing that care, not just refilling a prescription, experts said.
Start by asking your prescribing clinician or primary care physician what resources are available to you. In some cases, finding the right support may require an “à la carte” approach, in which you assemble your own care team. Depending on your coverage, your health plan may include therapy sessions, access to registered dietitians, trainers or physical therapists, and even gym memberships.
