GLP-1 and Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonists for Obesity: Are They Right for You? 
A Fresh Take on Weight Loss

GLP-1 and Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonists for Obesity: Are They Right for You?

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Published on October 6, 2025
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B y now, you’ve likely heard of GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist medications (which stands for glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) that can help you lose weight. The drugs have been a game changer for people who live with obesity, which more than 40 percent of Americans do.

“Obesity is not a vanity thing. It is a chronic disease,” says Iman Saleh, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist and the director of obesity medicine at Northwell Health’s South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, New York. “We need to treat it like one, just like we treat hypertension or high cholesterol.”

Two GLP-1 agonists and one dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist are currently FDA-approved to treat obesity.

GLP-1 Agonists 

  • liraglutide (Saxenda)
  • semaglutide (Wegovy)

GIP/GLP-1 Agonist

  • tirzepatide (Zepbound)
Two GLP-1 agonists and one dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist are currently FDA-approved to treat obesity.

In addition to helping you lose weight, GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists can help lower your risk of some conditions that go hand in hand with obesity: type 2 diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, kidney disease, metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease, and obstructive sleep apnea. Early research suggests they may also reduce cravings and addictive behaviors and provide cognitive protection against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

If you’ve been thinking about taking a GLP-1 or dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, you likely have lots of questions. Here’s everything you need to know about these meds, including how they work, whether they may be right for you, and what questions to ask yourself and your doctor before taking them.

How GLP-1 and Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonists Work to Treat Obesity

GLP-1 agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists are medications that increase satiety (the feeling of fullness), slow digestion, and quiet constant thoughts about food (known as “food noise”), making it easier to lose weight and keep it off. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise, they are powerful tools for managing obesity.

These medications were initially created to treat type 2 diabetes and have been extensively researched for several decades. “There’s probably 50 years of research, and they’ve been available for 20 years — longer than most people realize,” says Rekha Kumar, MD, an endocrinologist and obesity medicine expert at Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

GLP-1s and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists act on three key systems: blood sugar regulation, brain signals, and stomach fullness signals, says Dr. Kumar.

GLP-1 agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists quiet food noise.

After starting one of these medications, people who constantly think about what to eat next often report feeling like a “switch just gets turned off,” says Dr. Saleh. GLP-1s help with this food noise in multiple ways. “One, they slow stomach emptying, so people feel full faster and satisfied longer, which reduces the desire to eat,” she says. “Two, they suppress cravings for highly palatable foods — those high in fat and sugar.”

GLP-1 agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists quiet food noise.
Because dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, such as tirzepatide (Zepbound), target two hormones instead of one, they are, on average, more effective for controlling appetite and losing weight. Clinical trials have shown that people taking tirzepatide lose about 21 percent of their body weight over 72 weeks, as opposed to those taking the GLP-1 semaglutide (Wegovy), who lose about 15 percent.

4 Need-to-Know Facts About GLP-1 and Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonists for Obesity

Millions of Americans are now using GLP-1 and GIP/GLP-1 agonist medications. Roughly 12 percent of adults in the United States have tried a GLP-1 drug, and 6 percent are currently using one, according to a poll. Before you consider whether they are right for your treatment plan, review these facts.

1. Most GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists are injected. Some are available in pill form.

The three FDA-approved medications for weight loss are injected daily or weekly:

  • liraglutide (GLP-1): once a day
  • semaglutide (GLP-1): once a week injectable
  • tirzepatide (dual GIP/GLP-1): once a week

These injectable medications come in prefilled pens or vials with needles and syringes. Wegovy, a semaglutide, is also available as a tablet taken orally once daily. Rybelsus, another semaglutide, is also taken orally, once a day. It’s approved for type 2 diabetes by the FDA, but some doctors may prescribe it off label for obesity.

1. Most GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists are injected. Some are available in pill form.

2. Your dose may change over time.

Doctors usually prescribe a lower dose to start with and work up to a full-strength dose over several months to minimize side effects. Once you’ve reached your weight loss goals, your doctor may prescribe a smaller dose or advise you to take your current dose less frequently.

2. Your dose may change over time.

3. These drugs come with side effects, but they’re usually temporary.

The most common side effects are acid reflux, constipation, fatigue, headaches, indigestion, mild nausea, and vomiting, which Saleh says “are often eliminated or lessened as the medication stays in the body and you shift your lifestyle and eating habits.” To minimize these side effects, avoid foods that are spicy or high in fat, and eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Other, rare side effects associated with taking these drugs include gallstones, pancreatitis, and more severe gastrointestinal problems, such as bowel obstruction or gastroparesis (in which the muscles in the stomach are partially paralyzed and don’t move properly for digestion).

3. These drugs come with side effects, but they’re usually temporary.

4. GLP-1 agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists work best alongside a healthy lifestyle.

The FDA notes that these medications should not be used alone but in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Proper sleep and stress management also play a role in the ability to lose weight. “The key is that success isn’t just about the number on the scale. It’s about feeling good about yourself, getting healthier for yourself and for your family, and making sure you’re doing it in a healthy way,” says Saleh.

4. GLP-1 agonists and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists work best alongside a healthy lifestyle.

Am I a Candidate for a GLP-1 or Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonist?

Although GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 medications have shown great promise in helping people with obesity lose weight, they aren’t a good fit for everyone. Here’s why they may or may not be right for you.

Common Questions About GLP-1 and Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonists

Still have questions about GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists? Kumar and Saleh share the most common questions they are asked by their patients.

How to Talk to Your Doctor About GLP-1 and Dual GIP/GLP-1 Agonists for Obesity

Before talking to your doctor about drugs for obesity and weight loss, it’s important to pause and reflect on your own comfort level, goals, resources, and support.

“One of the first things I ask my patients,” says Kumar, “is, ‘What are you willing to change: nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep?’ I don’t expect everyone to do everything at once … but the medicine will work better when you’re willing to increase your activity and improve your diet.”

Self-Reflection

Before you meet with your doctor, ask yourself these questions:

  1. What do I hope to get out of this treatment, beyond weight loss?
  2. Am I comfortable injecting myself with a pen or needle and syringe once a week or once a day? If not, what would help me feel more confident?
  3. How much time can I realistically commit to making healthy lifestyle changes?
  4. Do I have a support system in place to help motivate me to maintain lifestyle changes?
  5. What is my insurance situation? Will the medication be covered? If not, can I afford to pay for it out of pocket?
  6. Do I have family planning goals (for example, breastfeeding, pregnancy, or trying to conceive in the next year)?
  7. What are my biggest concerns about the side effects or long-term use?
Once you’ve reflected, you’ll be ready to have a productive discussion with your provider. “You need a real conversation with a doctor, not just getting the medicine off the internet after filling out a form,” says Kumar. “It needs to come with support.”

Doctor Discussion

Bring this list of questions to your next appointment to guide the conversation:

  1. Am I a candidate for a GLP-1 or dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, considering my personal and family medical history?
  2. How do you decide which medication is best for me?
  3. Do I have other obesity-related health conditions that this treatment might help?
  4. How often will I need to take the medicine?
  5. What kind of weight loss or health improvements should I realistically expect, and how soon might I see results?
  6. Are there any behavioral or psychological factors that could have an impact on the effectiveness of these drugs?
  7. What side effects or complications should I monitor myself for while taking these medications?
  8. How often will I need follow-up visits, lab work, or other tests?
  9. What changes should I make to my eating, exercise, and daily habits to help the medicine work better?
  10. What’s the long-term plan? Will I need to stay on this medicine indefinitely?
  11. If the medicine doesn’t work for me or my insurance doesn’t cover it, what other options do I have?
GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists have brought new hope for people living with obesity who haven’t found success with lifestyle changes alone. They aren’t for everyone, but if you’re dealing with excess body fat that affects your health — especially if you’ve been told blood sugar, cholesterol, liver, or sleep apnea are concerns for you — it’s worth learning more about these medicines and talking to your doctor. “These medications are one tool,” says Kumar. “The best way to use the tool is alongside healthy habits like good nutrition, exercise, and building muscle.”
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
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Adam Gilden, MD, MSCE

Medical Reviewer
Diplomate of American Board of Obesity Medicine Foundation

Adam Gilden, MD, MSCE, is an associate director of the Obesity Medicine Fellowship at University of Colorado School of Medicine and associate director of the Colorado University Medicine Weight Management and Wellness Clinic in Aurora. Dr. Gilden works in a multidisciplinary academic center with other physicians, nurse practitioners, registered dietitians, and a psychologist, and collaborates closely with bariatric surgeons.

Gilden is very involved in education in obesity medicine, lecturing in one of the obesity medicine board review courses and serving as the lead author on the Annals of Internal Medicine article "In the Clinic" on obesity.

He lives in Denver, where he enjoys spending time with family, and playing tennis.

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Susan holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Her career includes leadership roles at the Global Healthy Living Foundation and Health Monitor Network, where she developed multichannel health content across web, email, podcasts, video, social media, and print. Susan's work reaches millions of readers each year, and she collaborates with leading healthcare providers, researchers, advocacy groups, and industry partners to create resources that reach millions of readers each year.

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