Glugacon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications have taken social media and celebrity news by storm. Your patients have likely heard about these medications – sold under the brand names Wegovy and Ozempic, and the GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist tirzepatide (sold as Mounjaro or Zepbound) – and their effectiveness for weight loss well before the topic is broached in your exam room. So, you might be asking yourself, what exactly have they heard online?
A 2023 descriptive analysis conducted of the top 100 TikTok videos posted under the hashtag #Ozempic reports a range of topics being covered in posted videos, including encouragement to take the medication, before and after images, and common side effects. At the time of the study, these videos had been viewed 70 million times.
As of February 2025 (when this article was written), there are more than 384,500 TikTok posts with the hashtag “Ozempic,” more than 224,100 TikTok posts with the hashtag “glp1,” and more than 79,600 TikTok posts with the hashtag “Wegovy.” Those numbers are just a snapshot since they do not account for variations of these hashtags or posts that did not include a hashtag. While some of these videos are posted by health care professionals and are well researched, many are filled with misinformation and disinformation. Below are three myths currently circulating.
Myth 1: “Nature’s Ozempic” is just as effective
If you do a quick online search for “Nature’s Ozempic,” you’ll be met with a host of food, drink, and supplement recommendations for weight loss. TikTok videos with this hashtag suggest that simple everyday foods or drinks such as coffee, black tea, or turmeric can have the same effects as a GLP-1 medication. It is true that coffee, black tea, and turmeric have nutrition benefits and that some foods can increase GLP-1 levels in your body. However, when it comes to losing weight, none can compare to the effectiveness of the once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide.
Some dietary supplements may help with hydration, provide an energy boost, or curb cravings, but “dietary supplements” is a broad category of products that is not strictly regulated for effectiveness or safety. The information online about “natural” remedies can be unfounded, misleading, and may confuse patients.
Myth 2: Online pharmacies are always trustworthy
Google search queries for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have significantly increased over the past four years. Whether people are searching for scientific research or to find easy access to a “dupe” of GLP-1 medications, they will likely come across an online pharmacy. According to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), nearly 95% of websites offering prescription-only drugs online operate illegally and 96% of illegal online pharmacies reviewed by NABP did not require a valid prescription for the sale of prescription-only medicine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that online pharmacies may sell medications without a prescription at deeply discounted prices. The medication sold at these pharmacies may be dangerous. To help you educate your patients about this topic, the FDA created downloadable educational materials about online pharmacies.
Myth 3: Taking GLP-1 medication is shameful
You do not have to look very far to find stigmatizing language in posts and comments about GLP-1 medications or the people who have used them. The naysayers often refer to a lack of willpower or laziness, saying that people should have lost weight “the old-fashioned way.” And while we know that in most cases obesity is a multifactorial disease due to environment, psycho-social factors and genetics, the comments can still hurt. Numerous people who posted about their personal results on GLP-1 medication emphasized themes of overcoming shame and stigma. One notable TikTok video with more than 28,000 likes features someone explaining all the reasons she wishes she never shared that she took Ozempic. In particular, she felt that people close to her discounted her health achievement because she was on medication.
Many stigmatizing comments focus on body image—not health. This is an issue that is backlit by existing and known negative effects of social media on body image. Social media is a double-edged sword—it gives misinformation, disinformation, and downright rude comments a platform while also creating community. Patients who thrive on the medication should be able to do so unapologetically, and those who want to learn more should be able to do so openly. Yet, patients may be exposed to outside forces that amplify sensitivity around this topic.
Engage your patients in a conversation
Each person’s health needs are unique as are the messages they encounter. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office recommends that health care professionals proactively engage with patients about health misinformation and provides helpful tools for educating patients on how to determine if a source of information is reputable.
This article was published as part of a series for Obesity for World Obesity Day, March 4, 2025. View the full Special Series for more articles and messages from the editors regarding language and content.
Special Series
About the author
Katie Cavender is the Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications for the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care and is the Managing Editor of Perspectives in Primary Care.
**Feature photo obtained with a standard license on Shutterstock.
Interested in other articles like this? Subscribe to our newsletter.
Interested in contributing to Perspectives in Primary Care? Review our submission guidelines.
