The very real problem of the global obesity epidemic is brought home by a recent comprehensive global analysis published in The Lancet. An analysis which brings the escalating crisis into sharp relief, labelling it a "monumental societal failure," as it predicts that more than 50% of adults, and 1 in 3 children, will be overweight or obese by 2050.

GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide injections (aka ‘skinny jabs’), such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro have taken the world by storm, hailed as miracle weight loss drugs. However, while these drugs can create significant weight loss in some, they can also come with considerable adverse effects, including nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pancreatitis, risk of thyroid cancer, gastrointestinal distress, not to mention 'Ozempic face' and 'Ozempic arms', and potential long-term dependency due to weight regain when injections are stopped. Of particular concern is that users of these GLP-1 agonists are not given the necessary knowledge about the potential risks of these drugs, nor are they given information about alternatives, such as changes in how, what and when to eat, as well as to lifestyle habits, or how to address possible underlying emotional triggers and addictions, which makes it all but impossible to maintain weight loss naturally once they stop the medication. This means informed consent simply isn't exercised—all of the sake of profit.

The shift toward pharmaceutical weight loss

Only a decade ago, obesity was primarily addressed through lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. Now, the narrative has shifted—being overweight and obese is increasingly being framed as a “chronic complex disease” requiring pharmaceutical intervention. The rise of semaglutide drugs risks a growing reliance on medication rather than support and education on how to implement sustainable health practices. While pharma is cashing in, people are losing themselves in a vicious cycle of weight loss and regain, without long-term strategies to gain and maintain vibrant metabolic health.

>>> Are you up for taking Big Pharma's new 'skinny' jab?

Loading the drug deck

Pharmaceutical companies have played a significant role in fuelling the demand for semaglutide drugs, using a mix of aggressive marketing, media influence, and strategic shortages to create a sense of urgency and necessity. Some familiar tactics include:

• Celebrity endorsements and social media influence: High-profile figures and influencers have been openly discussing their use of Ozempic and Wegovy, creating a viral effect that has driven widespread interest. While some endorsements are organic, others may be influenced by undisclosed financial incentives from pharmaceutical companies.
• Media saturation and positive framing: News outlets have been flooded with articles praising semaglutide as a game-changer for weight loss, often downplaying or omitting information about side effects and long-term dependency risks.
• Physician influence: Drug companies often fund research that highlights the benefits of their products while minimising risks. They fund medical conferences and doctor training to keep semaglutide the go-to treatment. In the UK, Eli Lilly has partnered with the NHS to ensure its weight loss offering, Tirratepide, is given to those deemed to be in clinical need.
• Artificial shortages to drive scarcity: Reports of semaglutide shortages have further fuelled demand, making patients and doctors eager to secure prescriptions before supplies ‘run out’. This illusion drives demand, creating a sense of exclusivity, immediacy and necessity, ensuring that more people seek out the drug urgently.

The hidden costs of semaglutide

Despite the hype surrounding semaglutide, there are significant drawbacks that are often downplayed. These include:

• Pancreatitis and thyroid cancer: There is evidence that people who use GLP-1 receptor agonists are at risk of acute pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening, and animal studies have revealed an increased risk of thyroid cancer.
• Muscle loss and metabolic slowdown: Studies indicate that up to 39% of weight lost on semaglutide comes from lean body mass, which can have a disastrous impact on metabolic health, slowing metabolism and making it harder to maintain weight loss once treatment stops. Loss of muscle tissue (lean body mass) also means loss of mitochondria, the energy factories in our cells. Loss of mitochondrial capacity is directly related to an increased risk of chronic diseases, form cancer through to heart disease and Alzheimer's. Yes, our energy factories are needed throughout our lives, and when they deplete as we age, we run the risk of not being able to mount the necessary immune response to keep these diseases in check. It's no surprise that some people using skinny jabs talk about their experiences with crushing fatigue.
• Weight regain after stopping use: Research suggests that most patients regain lost weight within a year of discontinuing the drug, as their appetite returns without having developed new and sustainable dietary, lifestyle and emotional habits.
• Severe side effects: An increasing number of users report debilitating adverse reactions that can interfere with daily life, some being severe enough to result in hospitalisation, or even death.

Creating weight loss naturally and sustainably

Pharmaceuticals may be able to create short-term weight loss, but it comes with potential long-term risks. Natural approaches that work with your body, speaking directly to your genetic blueprint, offer truly sustainable solutions without the risk of debilitating adverse reactions. Here are 3 areas where we juxtapose a natural solution to a skinny jab downside.

1. Preserving muscle and boosting metabolism
   As discussed, one of the major downsides of semaglutide is its tendency to cause muscle loss. A significant issue because muscle is a key driver of metabolic rate and energy expenditure. When we lose muscle, our resting metabolism slows, making it easier to regain weight once they stop taking the drug. By contrast, exercising in a fasted state promotes fat burning, creating fat loss, while preserving lean mass. Consume adequate protein when you eat and it will help to maintain and even build muscle, hence you build lean muscle whilst losing fat, all without the need for pharmaceuticals.
2. Improving insulin sensitivity
   Many individuals struggling with obesity have underlying insulin resistance, a condition where the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to higher blood sugar levels and increased fat storage. Semaglutide can temporarily reduce blood sugar, but it does not fix the insulin resistance at its core. Dietary approaches such as eating a low-carb diet and intermittent fasting can reverse insulin resistance by improving insulin sensitivity, promoting fat burning and maintaining metabolic flexibility.
3. Sustained fat loss without dependence
   The boom and bust vicious spiral of rebounding weight regain is one of the most significant challenges associated with semaglutide use. Without addressing emotional triggers, nutrition and lifestyle factors, too many are finding themselves in a cycle of dependency. Natural approaches prefer whole body balance, encouraging metabolic flexibility, through using food as information that ‘informs’ every cell in the body through it’s molecules. An example of this is using healthy fats as fuel to generate enhanced fat-burning (beta oxidation) rather than relying on artificial appetite suppression through the use of drugs.

The alternative: Go natural

For individuals looking for a long-term solution to weight management, here are some natural approaches that we all engage in at ANH that offer a comprehensive (tried and tested!) solution:

• Nutrient-dense eating: Prioritising whole, unprocessed foods that naturally support metabolic health.
• Strategic fasting protocols: Using various lengths of intermittent fasting to regulate appetite, reduce insulin resistance, and promote fat loss.
• Addressing emotional triggers and past trauma that leads to uncontrolled and emotional eating, as well as food addiction.
• Physical activity and resistance training: Building muscle to enhance metabolism and maintain weight loss.
• Stress management and sleep optimisation: Addressing lifestyle factors that contribute to weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.

Long-term health versus temporary fix

While weight-loss medications in the form of GLP-1 receptor agonists may seem like a magic bullet, they are at best a sticking plaster, offering short-term weight loss for some—and not without potentially serious risks of harm. Without addressing the fundamental, underlying, triggers, drivers and causes of an individual’s metabolic dysfunction; without implementing changes in eating habits and lifestyle; and without changing our relationship to activity and movement, it's no wonder that people struggle to maintain their results after stopping the medication. And because proper informed consent isn't granted to users, people don't get to learn about alternative approaches to reducing GLP-1 and insulin: namely fasting. Healthy and long-term weight management requires a robust, multi-factorial and individualised metabolic flexibility programme. Merely suppressing appetite by blocking the GLP-1 receptor artificially is like using hammer to tune a piano.

Pharmaceutical interventions may play a temporary role in extreme cases, but on their own, they’re nearly always a poor solution for weight management, while almost always coming with a slew of potential risks. The path to lasting health lies not in magic bullets or quick fixes, but in addressing the things that control our behaviour, habits and addictions, what ails us emotionally, relearning truly sustainable diet and lifestyle habits, as well as making a sincere and heartfelt commitment to long-term well-being that works with, rather than against nature.

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