GLP-1s aren’t the problem, depending on them is – Castanet.net
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1s aren’t the problem, depending on them is
Weightloss drugs problems
Tania Gustafson – Aug 15, 2026 / 11:00 am| Story: 628066
Photo: Contributed
One of the biggest concerns with the current conversation about weight loss drugs is it is once again making the number on the scale the main measure of success, says Tania Gustavson.
There is no question we are living through one of the biggest shifts in the weight loss conversation in decades
For the first time, medications originally developed to help manage metabolic conditions have become part of mainstream culture. Everyone seems to know someone who is taking a GLP-1 medication, considering one or wondering if this is finally the answer after years of struggling with weight
I get it. Women are tired. They’re frustrated and they just want to feel like themselves again. They are tired of gaining weight despite doing what they have always been told to do. They are tired of feeling like their bodies changed overnight during menopause. They are tired of counting calories, restricting food, spending hours exercising, and blaming themselves when those strategies stop working
When something promises relief, especially after years of frustration, it is understandable why women pay attention
This is not about shaming anyone for the choices they make. Healthcare decisions are personal, and medications can absolutely have a place in supporting health when they are prescribed appropriately and used as part of a larger plan
The conversation we need to have is not whether GLP-1 medications are good or bad. It is are we creating health or chasing weight loss? Those are not always the same thing
One of the biggest concerns I have with the current conversation is we have once again made the number on the scale the main measure of success. We celebrate how quickly someone loses weight but we often fail to ask a more important question:
What is the body losing, and what is the body gaining? All weight is not created equally
The scale cannot tell you whether you lost fat, muscle, water or bone. It cannot tell you whether your metabolism is healthier, whether your blood sugar is more stable, or whether your body is becoming stronger and more resilient and for women in menopause, that distinction matters
One of the most important things women can do as they age is preserve and build muscle. Muscle is not just about appearance. It is one of the foundations of healthy aging. It supports metabolism, improves insulin sensitivity, protects bones, supports mobility, and helps maintain independence
Your body is the vehicle that drives you through life. Muscle is part of the engine that keeps that vehicle strong and capable for the road ahead. The goal is not simply to make the vehicle lighter. The goal is to make sure it can carry you through all the seasons of life
That is where I believe we need to pull back the curtain on the current weight loss conversation
Many women use those medications without also addressing the foundational pieces that created the problem in the first place. If blood sugar is dysregulated, inflammation is high, sleep is poor, stress is overwhelming and muscle mass is declining, those issues still need attention
A medication can influence appetite. It can help some people eat less and lose weight—at first. But it does not replace the need to nourish your body, build strength, support your hormones and create the internal environment where your body can thrive
Symptoms are signals. Your body’s not broken. It’s trying to tell you something
Weight gain, cravings, fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, and changes in body composition are not simply signs you need more willpower and they don’t “just happen” because you hit a certain age. They are signals that your body may need a different approach
I know this because I lived the opposite experience. For many years, I struggled with arthritis and a very low immune system. In learning how to balance my body and fill the nutritional gaps needed to overcome those challenges, I was also able to significantly reduce inflammation and balance my hormones. It was something I didn’t fully realize was the significance of until several years later when I entered menopause without the usual hot flashes and other nasties
It was not because I found a shortcut. It was because I learned how to work with my body instead of against it—and that’s the message I want women to hear. You are not a broken machine that needs to be fixed. You are a complex, intelligent body that responds to the environment you create for it
The foundation matters. Protein matters. Strength training matters. Sleep matters. Managing stress matters. The quality of the food you eat matters
Numbers are not nutrients. A calorie is not simply a calorie when you consider how different foods affect your hormones, blood sugar, inflammation, and muscle. The goal is not just to consume less. The goal is to provide your body with what it needs to function well. Often that means eating more than you have for a long time
The goal should not simply be to lose weight for an event, a vacation or a smaller clothing size. The goal should be to build a body that allows you to enjoy your life for decades to come
A body that lets you travel, lift your grandchildren, get down on the floor and get back up without assistance. A body that gives you confidence because it is strong, capable, and healthy
I believe women deserve more than chasing the next quick fix. They deserve to understand how their bodies work and how to create lasting health. Because the best outcome is not simply being smaller
The best outcome is being stronger, healthier, more energized, and more capable than you ever thought possible so you can live longer, stronger, healthier, and truly enjoy the life you’ve worked so hard to create
The FIT Menopause Method fall session begins in September. Email [email protected] to get on the list to be first to know when it opens
This article is written by or on behalf of an outstanet
More FIT Talk With Tania articles
About the Author
An award winning, board-certified nutritionist, Tania Gustafson has been active in the health and fitness industry since 1986
She has a background in education in special needs, specializing in behaviour therapy. More recently, she added certified mental wellness coach to her growing resume
Seeing how her dad overcame health challenges using food, Tania has always known the importance of nutrition but it wasn’t until her youngest was diagnosed with a blocked colon around the age of two that she took a deep dive into the ways food and ingredients affect the body, and she’s been obsessed ever since
Fast forward to fall 2011. It was then she first learned to use food to create hormonal balance and stabilize blood sugar to get results instead of counting calories and fat grams. It changed everything. Tania founded FIT Nutrition in 2012 to help women stop dieting, take back control of their health, hormones, weight and gut health and live with food freedom
Tania’s a wife, mom of three, grandma to two, a speaker, columnist, recipe guru and self-proclaimed gym rat
Watch herfree training video to learn more about her no-diet philosophy and exclusive FIT Method. You can master menopause and make midlife the best time of your life
The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.
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