From celebrity headlines to social media buzz, weight-loss ‘jabs’ have become one of the biggest health conversations of the decade. But behind the rapid transformations and bold promises lies a far more complex story – one that affects women’s health, hormones, and gut balance in ways few people are talking about.
That’s why we’ve split this topic into a two-part series:
- Part one (below) explores what GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are, how they work, and what clinical trials reveal about their real-world results – especially for women in midlife.
- Part two dives deeper into the hidden gut health side effects, how these medications may affect digestion and metabolism long term, and what you can do to naturally support your own GLP-1 response and overall wellbeing.
Let’s begin with the science behind these much-talked-about treatments.
What every woman should know about weight-loss drugs
It’s hard to ignore the hype – celebrities, influencers, and everyday people alike are crediting weight loss (GLP-1) medications for dramatic transformations. These drugs promise major weight loss and better metabolic health, but they weren’t designed for that. Originally created to help manage type-2 diabetes, GLP-1s are now being used far beyond their original purpose – raising questions about how they affect otherwise healthy adults, particularly women over 50 managing midlife changes.
Curious whether they’re right for you – or what the science really says? Let’s dig into how GLP-1s work, what we know (and don’t), their digestive side effects, and why supporting your body naturally still matters most.
What are GLP-1 receptor agonists — and what is GLP-1?
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone your gut releases after you eat. Its job: stimulate insulin when glucose is high, slow how fast your stomach empties, reduce appetite, and promote fullness signalling.
Pharmaceutical GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic this hormone but more strongly and persistently. In type-2 diabetes, they help improve blood sugar control, reduce insulin resistance, and sometimes reduce weight. Over time, high-dose versions were developed and trialled for obesity (with or without diabetes).
Usage in the UK — who is using them?
- Recent market and clinical estimates suggest that around 1.4 to 1.6 million people in Great Britain are using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (mostly via private prescription or online clinics), though NHS access is much more limited.
- In real-world prescribing and clinic cohorts, women form the majority of users, and a substantial fraction are in midlife or older age bands (i.e. 50+). Many clinics report that women aged 30–50+ make up some of the largest user groups.
This really matters, because for women in their 50s, so much is already changing – metabolism slows, hormones fluctuate, muscle mass naturally declines, and fat tends to redistribute. With these shifts (and a higher risk of certain health conditions), the balance of risks and benefits from these drugs can look quite different than it does for younger people.
What the trials show when people do not have diabetes
Because obesity isn’t the same as diabetes, researchers have also studied GLP-1 drugs in people whose blood sugar levels are normal or just slightly raised.
Here’s what they’ve found:
- In large, carefully controlled (often industry-funded) trials of drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide, participants lost around 10–20% of their body weight over one to two years – when paired with intensive lifestyle guidance.
- Many of these studies included people without type-2 diabetes, or with mixed blood sugar profiles, to understand how the drugs affect weight on their own.
- The results are undeniably impressive, but they also come from environments with close monitoring, structured nutrition, behavioural support, and regular follow-ups – conditions that are tough to replicate in real life.
So yes, there’s solid evidence these medications can help people without diabetes lose weight. But what works in a clinical trial doesn’t always translate seamlessly into everyday life.
If you’ve been wondering whether GLP-1s could be right for you (or for someone you know), the key is understanding not just how they work, but how they fit into a bigger picture – one that includes gut health, digestion, and long-term lifestyle habits that support sustainable results.
So we’ve looked at what GLP-1 drugs do, how they were developed, and what the research really shows for people without diabetes, but that’s only half the story.
In part two, we’ll explore how these drugs interact with your gut, what side effects women are experiencing, and how to naturally support your own metabolism and digestive health — with or without medication. If you would like to know more about how our range of natural supplements can help with weight management, or any digestive and gut health issue, please get in touch.
