It's like I've been saying this whole time… GLP-1 drugs are NOT a weight loss panacea. I'm not saying these don't have a place in medicine at all… For some people with SEVERE metabolic dysfunction, perhaps they can be a tool (when all else has failed). But for the VAST majority of humans, GLP-1s are a huge NET NEGATIVE in my opinion. Of course, the mainstream media, longevity enthusiasts, celebrities, even some pretty smart individuals I respect have been singing praises about GLP-1s… How millions of peoples’ lives have been changed. Hundreds of pounds lost. Overeating and cravings silenced. Behaviors changed. Confidence regained. But a major new systematic review and meta-analysis published in The BMJ just gave us the answer to the question we’re all asking… What happens when you STOP? The study looked at 37 studies involving over 9,300 participants who discontinued GLP-1 medications after losing weight... And guess what happened? Weight regain was FASTER than what we see after behavioral interventions like diet and exercise changes - about 0.3 kg (0.7 pounds) per month faster. And people were estimated to regain a significant portion of their lost weight within 18 months But here's what really caught my attention... It's not just the weight that comes back – your hunger signals return with a VENGEANCE. When you stop taking GLP-1s, your appetite doesn't just "normalize"... It actually rebounds HARDER than before. The research shows that weight loss triggers compensatory responses in your body – increased ghrelin (the hunger hormone), decreased leptin, reduced metabolic rate, and ramped-up appetite signals from the hypothalamus. GLP-1 drugs artificially suppress all of this while you're taking them... But the second you stop? Your body's defense mechanisms kick in HARD. Increased hunger... reduced satiety... greater cravings... decreased ability to resist food. It's like your biology is PUNISHING you for trying to take a shortcut (sounds familiar?)

Hey Dr Serge, my doctor recommended me to get on a GPL one to help me lose weight because I have knee issues. My concern is I see social media talking about all the side effects from vision loss, thyroid cancer, gut problems, and muscle loss and weakness. So I’m concerned if the benefits outweigh the side effects? Your thoughts?

When researchers applied a new obesity definition that includes waist circumference and other anthropometric measures beyond BMI, they found that 70% of Americans could be classified as obese, compared to just 43% under the traditional BMI-only definition. This isn't just statisticians moving goalposts. The study, published in JAMA Network Open and analyzing over 300,000 people, identified a previously overlooked group they termed "anthropometric-only obesity," meaning people with elevated waist measurements despite normal BMI. These individuals showed increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular events, and organ dysfunction, even though they wouldn't have been flagged by BMI alone. This distinction matters because the distribution of body fat, particularly abdominal fat, drives metabolic dysfunction independently of total body weight. This represents a significant shift in our understanding of obesity. It's not just about the number on the scale; where you carry that weight profoundly affects your health. When we include these more comprehensive measures, we see this is nothing short of a national health emergency that should be treated as such. The good news is that lifestyle interventions targeting metabolic health, including whole foods nutrition, resistance training, and stress management, address both total adiposity and its distribution.

Hey Dr Serge, I have a question about card controllers. Do they work and help you lose weight or do they have side effects or affect body in anyway

Researchers with Chung-Shan Medical University, Taiwan, looked at the effects of hibiscus extract (HSE) on metabolic regulation in a group of overweight or obese adults, ages 18 to 65. Participants received either HSE -- at a dose of 450 milligrams (mg) -- or a placebo capsule containing 500 mg of starch daily for 12 weeks. The hibiscus extract led to a number of beneficial effects on obesity as well as liver health. Those in the HSE group had decreased body weight, body mass index (BMI) and body fat, as well as reduced abdominal fat distribution. Serum free fatty acids, which tend to be elevated in people with obesity, also decreased, while fatty liver disease improved. "Noticeably, the safety evaluation revealed that HSE did not harm the human body," the researchers noted. They included a breakdown of functional ingredients in HSE that likely contributed to the impressive anti-obesity and liver-protective effects shown in the study. Hibiscus polyphenols are also xenohormetic agents, which describe bioactive compounds produced when plants are stressed, which then confer benefits to the animals that consume them. Anthocyanins, which are responsible for hibiscus' bright red flowers, are one example, and it's believed their antioxidant effects are responsible for some of the plant's health benefits, though not all. One study also revealed that different colored hibiscus led to different health benefits related to obesity and insulin resistance. Alma blanca, a white-yellow hibiscus variety rich in organic and phenolic acids, surprisingly had greater anti-obesity and antidiabetic effects in rats, compared to Cuarenteña, a purple variety.