Weight-loss drug ‘support supplements’: do they address nutrient deficiencies, or are they just another fad?

By Jordan Beaumont, Senior Lecturer in Food and Nutrition, Sheffield Hallam University

Weight-loss injections have rapidly moved from specialist clinics to social media feeds and high-street pharmacies. Known as GLP-1 medications, they were originally developed to support those with type 2 diabetes but are now widely used to support weight loss.

These medicines mimic a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, which helps regulate appetite and blood sugar. By slowing digestion and increasing feelings of fullness, they often lead people to eat less and lose weight.

Evidence suggests…

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