GLP-1 Hype vs Reality: What They Don’t Say in the Ads

Thinking about GLP-1 weight-loss shots like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro? You’re not the only one scrolling TikTok and wondering if these “magic shots” actually work… or if they’ll wreck your hair, your face, or your gut.

In this episode of Symptoms & Side Eyes, two physicians break down GLP-1 medications with zero shame and plenty of science.

Board-certified obesity medicine specialist Dr. Deniece Johnson and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Lauren Payne cover:

• What GLP-1 meds actually are (Ozempic/Wegovy vs Mounjaro/Zepbound – and why tirzepatide is the “GOAT”)
• How these meds work in your body as hormones, not magic
• Hair loss on GLP-1s: what’s really happening (telogen effluvium), what’s normal vs concerning, and how to protect your hair
• “Ozempic face”: why rapid weight loss changes your face (and how to slow it, treat it, or not freak out about it)
• Real medication side effects: constipation, nausea, pancreatitis risk, eye concerns in diabetes, and how to prevent what you can prevent
• Who qualifies for GLP-1s, why some people may need them long-term, and why that is not a personal failure
• Compounded GLP-1s: when they can be helpful, and what to look for in a reputable pharmacy
• Other weight-loss medication options for people who can’t or don’t want to do injections

This episode is your judgment-free, doctor-level guide to GLP-1s: what they help, what they don’t, and how to use them as a tool—not a personality.

Hosts:
👩🏾‍⚕️ Dr. Deniece Johnson, MD, DABOM – Double board-certified internal medicine & obesity medicine physician, founder of Lifestyle Care (Atlanta, GA)
👩🏾‍⚕️ Dr. Lauren Payne, MD, FAAD – Board-certified dermatologist, founder of Flourish Dermatology & Aesthetics (New Orleans, LA)

New episodes drop bi-weekly.

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