Weight Loss & Wellness
Medically supervised therapy that supports weight management.
GLP-1 TherapyAOD-9604 PeptideB12 / MIC InjectionOptional: NAD+
Metabolic therapy · incretin receptor agonist
GLP-1 therapy, appetite regulation and clinically guided weight loss.
GLP-1 therapy uses incretin receptor agonists (semaglutide and tirzepatide) to regulate appetite, slow gastric emptying, and improve insulin sensitivity. The medication class is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management, with the strongest weight-loss evidence base of any currently available pharmacotherapy. We position it as a clinical tool inside a physician-led metabolic program, not a standalone shortcut.
What it is
GLP-1 therapy refers to a class of injectable medications that activate the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, the hormone receptor that signals satiety after a meal. The two molecules used most commonly in modern weight-management practice are semaglutide (Wegovy for chronic weight management, Ozempic for type 2 diabetes) and tirzepatide (Zepbound for chronic weight management, Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes), a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly.
Both are FDA-approved, manufactured under standard pharmaceutical conditions, and prescribed by your Genesis provider following a Good Faith Exam and clinical evaluation. We prioritize the branded FDA-approved products where access and insurance allow.
How it works
Central appetite regulation. GLP-1 receptors in the hypothalamus and brainstem modulate hunger and satiety. Activation reduces appetite, food preoccupation, and meal size. Patients commonly report a quieting of food-related cravings within the first weeks of titration.
Slowed gastric emptying. Delayed gastric emptying prolongs post-meal satiety and reduces post-prandial glucose excursions. This same mechanism produces the most common side effect (nausea) during titration.
Glucose-dependent insulin response. GLP-1 agonists augment insulin secretion only when blood glucose is elevated, which is why hypoglycemia risk is low compared with sulfonylureas or insulin. Glucagon suppression contributes to improved fasting glucose.
Pivotal trial evidence. The STEP trials (semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly) demonstrated mean weight reduction of approximately 15 percent over 68 weeks in adults with obesity. The SURMOUNT-1 trial (tirzepatide 15 mg weekly) demonstrated mean weight reduction of approximately 20 percent over 72 weeks. Both consistently outperform older anti-obesity medications.
Conditions and use cases
Indications and clinical fit.
- Chronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥30, or BMI ≥27 with at least one weight-related comorbidity (FDA-approved).
- Type 2 diabetes management (FDA-approved). Often used alongside other anti-diabetic therapy under endocrinology supervision.
- Adjunct to a structured nutrition, sleep, and resistance-training program. We do not position GLP-1 therapy as a substitute for those foundations.
- Patients with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, MEN-2, or active pancreatitis should not use GLP-1 therapy.
Expected timeline
What patients commonly observe.
Week 0 to 4
Titration begins
Low starting dose with planned step-ups every 4 weeks. Nausea, fullness, and mild GI symptoms are most common in this window and typically improve.
Month 1 to 3
Early response
Most patients see meaningful appetite changes by week 8 to 12. Initial weight reduction emerges. Provider reviews tolerance and clinical response.
Month 3 to 6
Maintenance titration
Dose advanced to therapeutic range based on tolerance, response, and goals. Most weight reduction in trials occurs across the first 6 to 9 months.
Month 6 and beyond
Sustained therapy
Long-term continuation is typical, since discontinuation is associated with weight regain. Cadence and dose are individualized.
Stacks that include this therapy
GLP-1 therapy appears in this stack.
Investment and access
Care plans, not menus.
Genesis Longevity therapies are dispensed only after a complimentary consultation and Good Faith Exam. Schedule yours to receive a personalized plan tailored to your biology and goals.
Side effects
What patients commonly report.
Common. Nausea, decreased appetite, fullness, mild constipation or diarrhea, fatigue, injection-site reactions. Most symptoms occur during titration and improve over time.
Less common. Gallbladder events (cholelithiasis), dehydration if intake drops sharply, transient elevations in lipase. Body-composition shifts can include muscle loss when protein intake is insufficient.
Rare but serious. Acute pancreatitis, severe gastroparesis, allergic reaction. Discontinue and contact your provider for persistent severe abdominal pain. A boxed warning exists for thyroid C-cell tumors observed in rodent studies; relevance to humans is uncertain.
Contraindications
Who should not use this therapy.
Show contraindications
Absolute. Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN-2). Known hypersensitivity to semaglutide, tirzepatide, or excipients. Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Relative. History of pancreatitis. Severe gastroparesis. Active gallbladder disease. Type 1 diabetes (not first-line). Eating disorder history (requires careful evaluation before initiation).
Pairs well with
Therapies that complement this protocol.
- FDA-approved
Tesamorelin
Visceral fat reduction via growth hormone axis support.
Strong evidence - 503A compounded
AOD-9604
Targeted stubborn fat mobilization with no appetite or blood sugar effect.
Weak evidence - 503A compounded
B12 / MIC Injection
Energy metabolism, fat processing, and lipotropic support.
Moderate evidence
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about GLP-1 therapy.
Trial averages are approximately 15 percent body-weight reduction over 68 weeks on semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly, and approximately 20 percent on tirzepatide 15 mg weekly. Individual response varies. Outcomes depend heavily on consistent dosing, nutrition quality, resistance training, and sleep.
Weight regain is common after discontinuation. The STEP-4 extension trial showed substantial regain in the year after stopping semaglutide. We frame GLP-1 therapy as ongoing care, not a short course, and we discuss long-term planning before initiation.
Yes. Caloric reduction without resistance training and adequate protein leads to disproportionate muscle loss. Your provider will set a protein target (typically 1.2 to 1.6 g per kg body weight) and recommend resistance training two to four times weekly.
Yes, generally. There is no direct pharmacologic interaction. Hormone therapy and GLP-1 therapy are commonly used together inside the She Thrives and Male Vitality contexts.
Compounded semaglutide is regulated separately from FDA-approved branded products. Genesis preferentially uses the FDA-approved branded medications. Where compounding is clinically appropriate, we source from licensed 503A pharmacies and disclose this clearly.
Sources
Citations & references
- [1]Wilding JPH et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. NEJM 2021;384:989–1002 (STEP-1). Source
- [2]Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. NEJM 2022;387:205–216 (SURMOUNT-1). Source
- [3]FDA, Wegovy (semaglutide) injection prescribing information. Source
- [4]FDA, Zepbound (tirzepatide) injection prescribing information. Source
Status & disclosures
- FDA-approved
- Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) are FDA-approved. Genesis prescribes the branded FDA-approved products where access and insurance allow.
- 503A compounded alternative
- Compounded semaglutide is available in some clinical contexts and is prepared by licensed 503A pharmacies. Genesis discloses when a compounded preparation is used in place of the branded product.
- Long-term clinical relationship
- Discontinuation is commonly followed by weight regain. We frame GLP-1 therapy as ongoing clinical care with structured nutrition, resistance training, and physician supervision, not as a short-term intervention.
Next step
Talk to a Genesis provider about GLP-1 therapy.
Schedule a consultation. Physician-led, evidence-graded.
Or keep reading: See the Weight Loss & Wellness stack