It’s ironic that we’re simultaneously acknowledging the downsides of plastics and promoting GLP-1 meds

It’s the hubris of a materially advanced society — we can’t fathom how engineering our materials and our bodies could be bad for us

Though the negatives of GLPs will likely be discovered sooner (spoiler alert: muscle loss)

I’m not sure the muscle loss is entirely pro forma GLP but subsequent success of the drug itself.

Kinda like how Viagra was originally researched for chest pain and hypertension.

The Farcaster formerly known as Kchamp. Books, beats, bodybuilding, bright ideas and beautiful things.

katherinechampagne.com

Muscle loss seems to be higher with GLPs relative to non-pharma interventions, and I don’t know if we have enough research on how it affects other lean mass like bones and organs 

“Studies suggest muscle loss with these medications (as indicated by decreases in fat-free mass [FFM]) ranges from 25% to 39% of the total weight lost over 36–72 weeks. This substantial muscle loss can be largely attributed to the magnitude of weight loss, rather than by an independent effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists, although this hypothesis must be tested. By comparison, non-pharmacological caloric restriction studies with smaller magnitudes of weight loss result in 10–30% FFM losses.”

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(24)00272-9/abstract

https://warpcast.com/androidsixteen.eth/0xd2661de5

Yeah “muscle loss from substantial weight loss”

Muscle loss seems fine if all the other major morbid risks are taken off the table, too.

But why risk side effects at all if you’re not in dire straits?

I’m advocating against using this as a lifestyle drug in situations that do not require pharmacological intervention

Sorry, didn’t mean lifestyle in the sense that it’s used infrequently 

Meant a drug that is used for a cosmetic reason rather than being clinically necessary 

We are in the honeymoon phase of adopting this drug, that was the point with the comparison to plastics, which were (are?) seen as net good. The negative consequences reveal themselves slower

It’s not really a substance you can easily use as a lifestyle drug since results aren’t noticeable for weeks at a time. You have to be 30+ BMI to get it prescribed. Most folks rebound with weight gain once they get off of it.

Another really important discovery is that GLP/peptide agonists virtually eliminates dependencies with some substances and alcohol. Like almost cures them. We thought they were mental diseases you could only go to therapy or prison to rehabilitate. No longer true.

A lot more good outweighing bad.