
What's the deal with GLP-1s?
From Wellness, Actually with Emily Oster & Perry Wilson, MD by iHeartPodcasts
March 5, 2026 · 59 min · Season 3 · Episode 5
About this episode
Emily and Perry discuss GLP-1s, their origins, effectiveness, side effects, and societal impacts.
This week, Emily and Perry discuss GLP-1s, those blockbuster weight-loss drugs that have taken the world by storm -- and not just what you already know about them. From the origins in Gila monster venom to the surprisingly long history of their use, they explore their effectiveness, side effects, lingering questions about long-term usage, and the weird knock-on effects in both the brain (libido?) and our society (protein water?). These drugs are here to stay, so let's understand them from every angle. Plus: RFK vs. Dr. Mike, a concerning Surgeon General pick, and unsurprising data around football head injuries. Concussion & CTE Foundation Submit a question for our weekly mailbag at wellnessactually.fm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Hosts: Emily Oster, Perry Wilson
Topics covered
- GLP-1 drugs
- weight loss
- side effects
- long-term usage
- brain effects
- societal impact
- football head injuries
Keywords
- GLP-1
- weight-loss drugs
- Gila monster venom
- long-term effects
- libido
- protein water
- football injuries
- CTE
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Surgeon General, Concussion & CTE Foundation
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