In recent years, GLP-1 agonist peptides like Ozempic and Wegovy have surged into the spotlight, largely driven by their widespread media coverage and adoption by celebrities. By now, almost everyone has seen a tawdry headline about “Ozempic face” or read rumors claiming the weight all comes back once people stop the medication. Others share horror stories of severe digestive distress that forces them to quit the treatment altogether. These tales paint a complicated picture as GLP-1 medications continue to gain popularity.
Initially approved for diabetes management, these medications have become darlings of the weight-loss industry, offering users the promise of shedding pounds with relative ease. As interest in GLP-1 therapy grows, it raises questions: What role do these treatments play in our health? And can they be used in a more thoughtful, sustainable way?
While mainstream American medicine often takes a one-size-fits-all approach to GLP-1 therapy, a growing movement within functional medicine advocates for a more individualized, holistic treatment. Instead of focusing solely on weight loss, functional medicine practitioners view peptide therapy as one part of a broader health and wellness strategy—one that emphasizes the optimization of overall health.
A Personalized Approach
At the core of functional medicine is the belief that a person’s health is shaped by a combination of factors, including their medical history, lifestyle, and personal goals. Rather than applying a standard treatment, functional medicine aims to identify and address the root causes of health issues through personalized care. This approach considers the whole person, rather than just alleviating symptoms, and strives to create a treatment plan tailored to an individual’s specific needs.
This personalized approach can be especially beneficial when it comes to peptide therapy. “A functional medicine doctor can adjust peptide treatments based on a person’s health profile,” says Olivia Niedbala of Pike Acupuncture & Wellness in Milford, Pennsylvania. Niedbala, who has worked with numerous clients using GLP-1 and other peptide therapies, emphasizes the importance of customizing treatment plans. This involves adjusting the dosage, incorporating lifestyle modifications, and using complementary therapies, such as deep breathing, nasal humming, massage, yoga, and mild cold exposure, to ensure the patient’s body responds optimally.
Niedbala highlights acupuncture as one potential complementary therapy, helping to manage side effects like nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal discomfort. One key function of GLP-1 therapy is to delay gastric emptying, which can create a feeling of fullness and reduce cravings. However, this physiological change can also trigger unwanted symptoms. By targeting specific acupuncture points, practitioners can stimulate the body’s natural digestive processes, helping to alleviate these effects. “With the help of acupuncture, many have been able to stay on game-changing medications and improve their quality of life,” Niedbala says.
Acupuncture may also have a synergistic effect when combined with GLP-1 therapy, by influencing the hunger hormone ghrelin and the satiety hormone leptin, thus supporting weight loss. It can also enhance overall well-being by reducing pain, boosting energy, and promoting activity, essential for maintaining muscle mass and a balanced lifestyle during treatment. “We’re helping people achieve metabolic wellness, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce chronic inflammation,” says Niedbala. “Peptide therapy can be a vital tool in a broader health plan that helps people feel more energetic, less stressed, and more balanced in their bodies.”
A Whole Body Approach
To achieve lasting wellness, peptide therapy must be part of a broader health strategy. Functional medicine doctors often recommend integrating peptide therapy with other lifestyle practices such as meal planning for a high-protein diet, daily water consumption, quality sleep, weight-resistance training, stress management, and mental health support.
Marc Wendell, a Larchmont resident who’s a product manager for Amazon, lost 40 pounds in nine months using Ozempic. “While Ozempic is part of long-term behavior changes, it gives you the relief you need to focus on your health without obsessing over food all the time,” he says. Initially introduced to Ozempic through his wife, who has seen significant success with the medication, Wendell decided to try it himself. The results were transformative—not just for his weight, but for his overall health.
Wendell views Ozempic as a key part of a larger strategy, which includes intermittent fasting, a low-carb diet, and mindful eating. Beyond medication, dietary adjustments can play a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of peptide therapies. Certain foods—like whole grains, eggs, avocados, and nuts—naturally stimulate GLP-1 production, supporting appetite regulation and metabolic health. While these dietary changes alone cannot replicate the impact of GLP-1 medications, they can provide a more balanced and sustainable approach when used alongside peptide therapy. Over time, this holistic approach may even reduce reliance on medication.
“Ozempic was the cornerstone of my program, but it wasn’t the only piece. The medication gave me the mental clarity to make more sustainable lifestyle changes,” Wendell says. “Mindset is key, and this is Ozempic’s biggest benefit: It takes the lust for food out of the equation so you can focus on health. It’s injectable motivation. It’s liberating.”
This reflects a critical insight: Peptide therapies are most effective when used as tools to support long-term health goals, not as quick fixes for weight loss. “Ozempic gave me the freedom to focus on making long-term changes that will improve my metabolic health for the future, not just the present,” Wendell says.
Microdosing for Better Results
One emerging strategy within functional medicine for optimizing peptide therapy is microdosing—administering lower-than-usual doses to minimize side effects while providing therapeutic benefits. Although the FDA has not officially approved microdosing, some holistic practitioners are exploring this as a way to fine-tune treatments for individual needs. A functional medicine doctor can prescribe these smaller doses using a compounding pharmacy, which allows for more precise adjustments than relying on preloaded pens with fixed dosages.
Microdosing is especially appealing to people who are sensitive to the gastrointestinal side effects of GLP-1 medications. “Microdosing allows the body to adapt to the medication gradually, which can help reduce gastrointestinal symptoms,” Niedbala says. Beginning with smaller doses allows patients to gradually adjust to the medication, making it easier to reap its benefits without experiencing overwhelming side effects.
Niedbala emphasizes that individualized care is key. “This is not a one-size-fits-all approach,” she says. “The more we can fine-tune the dosage and pair it with other holistic treatments, the better the outcomes will be. It’s about finding the right balance for each individual.”
Health Beyond Weight Loss
While GLP-1 therapies have gained attention for their role in weight loss, their broader benefits are often overlooked. It’s important to remember these medications were originally FDA-approved for managing diabetes, and this foundational purpose underpins their ability to support a range of metabolic and health improvements. One of the most exciting areas of research is the use of these medications to manage inflammation. Emerging studies suggest GLP-1s play a role in modulating neurodegenerative inflammation, as seen in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, IBS, and other inflammatory diseases.
“GLP-1 medications have pleiotropic benefits, including weight loss, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, and anti-inflammatory effects,” says Jeannie Ocasio-Hampton, nurse practitioner and owner of Hampton Health Wellness Aesthetics in Hopewell Junction. (Pleiotropy is a genetic phenomenon where a single gene influences multiple traits that may seem unrelated.) “Emerging research highlights potential to address cardiac function, reduce liver fat, improve brain function, improve PCOS, help addiction impulses, benefit autoimmune and chronic inflammation conditions, lower the risk of certain cancers, and improve mental health.”
Laura Kandel, cofounder of Hudson Valley streaming platform Hudsy, who has struggled with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and its impact on her metabolism, found significant relief when she began using Wegovy. “Before Wegovy, when I breathed around food, I would gain weight—no matter how much I dieted, exercised, or restricted,” she says.
For Kandel, Wegovy became a tool that helped her regain control over her health, allowing her to move beyond restrictive diets and cravings. Kandell eventually decided to work with a dietitian to address deeper issues around food behavior. “Taking the stress out of that part of my life allowed me to focus my mental energies elsewhere, which has helped to support my goal of bettering myself physically and mentally.”
The combination of medication and support from a dietitian has enabled Kandel to lose nearly 70 pounds in just over two years, with gradual progress that feels sustainable. “What’s important for me is that this is not a quick fix,” she says. “I’m not interested in short-term weight loss. I want something that works for the long term.”
Safety and Ethical Considerations
While GLP-1 therapies have shown promise for weight loss and metabolic health, long-term safety profiles are still being researched and remain a critical consideration. “When starting patients on GLP-1 therapies, it’s essential to evaluate risks like gastrointestinal side effects, hypoglycemia, thyroid history, kidney function, cardiovascular history, and drug interactions,” Ocasio-Hampton says. “A thorough physical and bloodwork ensure we have an adequate assessment of their overall health and can decide whether these medications are appropriate for that individual.”
Moreover, as these treatments gain popularity, ethical questions arise about accessibility, fairness, and oversight. While some argue that peptides offer a powerful tool for managing health, there are also concerns about the potential for misuse, overuse, or setting unrealistic expectations.
Moving Forward with Wellness
As the use of GLP-1 therapies grows, it’s crucial to recognize they are tools, not magic bullets. While these medications offer powerful benefits for managing blood sugar, improving metabolic health, and supporting weight loss, their full potential is realized when paired with a holistic approach to wellness. This means looking beyond the scale and considering all aspects of health and well-being.
“Wellness is about creating balance in your life—not just fitting into a particular mold,” Kandel says. “These treatments should be part of a bigger picture, one that emphasizes mental, physical, and emotional health.” This perspective ensures peptide therapy goes beyond addressing isolated symptoms to supporting lasting improvements in both body and mind.
“When we treat the body as a whole, we’re more likely to see lasting improvements,” Niedbala says. “The medication helps with managing blood sugar and reducing cravings, but it’s the lifestyle changes you make around it that ensure the results are sustainable.”
This article appears in February 2025.
