How GLP-1 is changing people’s lives in unexpected ways

GLP-1 drugs have changed the lives of Americans and people around the world in both expected and unexpected ways.

GLP-1 drugs were originally used to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels, but over the past five years they have gained widespread popularity and notoriety as weight loss drugs. These drugs, which include brands such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegobee and Eli Lilly & Co.’s Zepbound, essentially work as appetite suppressants by mimicking gut hormones.

Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks estimated in a Feb. 4 interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” that approximately 20 million to 25 million patients worldwide may be taking GLP-1 made by either of these two companies. According to a KFF Health Tracking poll released Nov. 14, 18% of American adults said they had taken a GLP-1 drug at some point, and 12% said they were currently taking one.

These drugs have had many unintended side effects in the daily lives of their users. In general, users lose weight. Some people say they drink less alcohol, spend less on groceries, or don’t want to eat junk food or food at all.

Some people report more subtle side effects, such as gastrointestinal problems due to weight loss, loss of muscle mass, and sagging skin. The list price for GLP-1 is typically $1,000 or more per dose, and some health insurance plans can reduce the price considerably, but coverage may vary by insurance company. Although some users have reported rapid weight gain after discontinuing GLP-1 (researchers have raised this concern in a recent study), some doctors say the drug’s long-term side effects have not yet been particularly well studied.

Spokespeople for Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk told CNBC Make It that the companies stand behind the safety and effectiveness of their GLP-1 drugs, and that the drugs’ labels include FDA-approved warnings about known risks.

Spokespeople also noted that the company is introducing its own self-pay pharmacy for those without health insurance and is working to close the coverage gap so more insurance plans can cover GLP-1. If you experience side effects from Eli Lilly medications, call the Lilly Answers Center at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979), a company spokesperson said.

Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk currently dominate the FDA-approved GLP-1 market. Both companies bring in billions of dollars in annual GLP-1 sales, and both have spent or plan to spend billions to expand production of the drug. Patient and insurance company spending on GLP-1 in the United States increased from $13.7 billion in 2018 to $71.7 billion in 2023, according to an April 2025 research letter by researchers at the American Medical Association.

As the industry grows, some analysts predict that GLP-1 sales will increase to $100 billion by 2030. Companies such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Roche are currently developing competing drugs for weight loss. GLP-1’s advertising currently includes a Super Bowl commercial featuring celebrities such as tennis legend Serena Williams, “Saturday Night Live” actor Kenan Thompson and Grammy-winning record producer DJ Khaled.

CNBC Make It surveyed a group of people who had taken GLP-1 about their personal experiences with the drug. Here, four of them discuss the unexpected results and whether they think the drug is worth it. Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your daily routine that may affect your health.

—Daniel Danes Hutt, 44, head of content for an online education platform

I was very healthy most of my life until I was about 35 when my dad got sick. Between stress and work, I still exercised a lot, but the weight kept gaining. I hired a nutritionist and it became a bit of a success story. However, once I stopped restricting my diet, I did not lose weight.

I am currently in my 8th week of taking GLP-1. It’s summer here – I live in New Zealand – and I eat ice cream and such, but I’ve noticed that I’m eating much less. I just don’t want that. I don’t have a craving for it. I lost 5.3 kilograms (about 12 pounds).

I have a lot more energy. I go to Jiu-Jitsu twice a week and there are men in their 20s and 30s who are much more athletic, stronger and faster. I can now take care of myself much better.

I feel nauseous sometimes (for about 10 minutes at a time). The important thing is to remember to eat. I set an alarm so I don’t forget to eat. If not, you may suddenly find yourself grumpy after 12 hours and have no idea why. Because you don’t actually feel hunger pangs.

When it comes to groceries, what was easily between $200 and $300 turned into $100 or $80 or $50 depending on the week. I still treat myself to a burger and fries on the weekends, but I find myself having a hard time finishing the “adult” burgers, so I’m eating the kids’ burgers. Still, if you eat the fries first, you’re like, “I don’t even know if I can eat this burger.”

Obviously, getting things isn’t cheap. The amount of money I’m saving (on food) and the amount I’m spending on medicine are almost balanced.

—Rachel Dumas, 34, nurse

My story is probably different than the one you (usually) hear. I have a rare disease called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Gaining weight causes fluid to accumulate in the brain (which can lead to other serious health problems). One way to keep water in check is to lose weight.

After researching with doctors, we discovered a study showing that IIH patients taking GLP-1 reduced intracerebral pressure. I tried GLP-1 and have since stopped all (other) medications. I lost 80 pounds.

I was vomiting for the first month. I was afraid to try new, healthy foods because of the effects of my medication. If I eat too much, I don’t get a lot of GLP-1, but I had really bad gastrointestinal symptoms, so I started eating really, really small amounts. I started taking prebiotics and probiotics. I drank more water. I took a stool softener.

I don’t eat fried foods or drink sugary drinks. If you eat salty, fried, or generally unhealthy foods, you’ll feel the effects right away. At first, I felt an aversion to food. The smell of fried food literally made my stomach hurt. Now I can tolerate it.

You have to remind yourself to eat or set an alarm. Sometimes I go 24 hours without eating, and that’s not healthy. I don’t get invited to eat out because I think it’s a waste of money. When you lose weight rapidly, such as 80 pounds in six months, many changes occur physically. But now I feel really confident.

—Taylor Lagano, 35, technology entrepreneur

I have always struggled with weight gain (and related health issues). I’ve been on a diet since I was 14 years old. (GLP-1) is better than anything we’ve ever done in terms of weight loss.

It just silences that food noise that makes you obsessed with food. For me, food noise is always being hungry and thinking about food. I obsessively look at the menu before going out to eat, never feel full even after eating, and always want more food. I changed my mindset from eating to live to living to eat.

I spend about $400 on GLP-1 every 6-8 weeks. Now that my food budget has dropped significantly, I would rather spend my money on events and life experiences than going out to eat. One more thing, I don’t know why, but I don’t like to drink much.

(After starting GLP-1s) I appeared as an extra in a commercial. I also do Disney Princess live performances as a side job. I am Ms. North American Virginia 2024. I competed in beauty pageants when I was a teenager and never thought I would ever be able to compete again, especially considering my age. I can’t believe I can do something like this.

There’s a lot of stigma out there about this shot, and I feel like so many people could benefit from it. I know people think I cheated by taking the shot, but my health is my priority.

—Elisa Vitaro, 44, health tech executive

I was very hesitant to start GLP-1. I’ve been on a lot of diets and struggled with eating disorders. I had finally reached a mental place where I felt okay with who I was, but I was really worried that focusing on my weight again would disrupt my sense of peace.

What ultimately pushed me over the edge was that I was having a lot of problems with my knees. Now I’m a huge supporter of GLP-1. This was the best thing because it allowed me to get physically healthy without becoming mentally unhealthy in the process.

All I think about is food. It really eliminates the noise of eating. I have heard a lot about side effects such as vomiting and physical reactions. I was lucky that nothing like that happened. But I didn’t know about the problem of constipation. And the biggest side effect for me was heartburn. I have become an expert on the chewiness of Tums.

I was surprised at how much alcohol I drank. I buy more expensive clothes than I used to because, one, I look better in them, and two, I can actually wear them. If you’re plus size, you have a limited selection of what you can buy, and they’re usually not of the highest quality.

For those of us who are chronically chubby, it’s a health disease. I’m taking medication that works. Why not do it to treat your own condition? It feels like a stupid stigma that we put on people. Who cares how you did it? As long as you are getting healthy and losing the weight you need, don’t worry about anyone else about it.

These conversations have been condensed and edited for clarity.

Want to use AI to advance your work? Sign up for CNBC’s new online course, Beyond the Basics: How to Use AI to Supercharge Your Work. Learn advanced AI skills like building custom GPTs and using AI agents to increase your productivity today.