Metabolic Health & Weight-Loss Medicines Hub

Metabolic health refers to how well the body regulates energy, blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids. It is shaped by the interplay of hormones, organ function, physical activity, diet, sleep, and genetics. When these systems fall out of balance, the risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease increases — often long before any single diagnosis is made.

Obesity is one of the most visible and well-studied manifestations of metabolic dysfunction, but it is not the whole picture. People at a healthy weight can have poor metabolic health, and not everyone with obesity develops metabolic complications. This hub focuses on the broader landscape: the medications, lifestyle foundations, and evidence that apply across the spectrum. For guides specifically addressing obesity as a condition — including BMI, fat distribution, and metabolic syndrome — see the Obesity & Metabolic Health Hub.

This hub brings together our guides on obesity, GLP-1 medications (such as Ozempic and Wegovy), muscle protection, and long-term weight management.

If you are considering weight-loss medicines, already taking a GLP-1 drug, or trying to understand the bigger picture of metabolic health, start here.

Core Guides

Ozempic & GLP-1 Cautions Guide

Link: /guides/ozempic-cautions
Focuses on the safety side: side effects, misuse, muscle loss, and what happens when you stop GLP-1 medications.

Understanding GLP-1 Medications for Weight Loss

Link: /guides/ozempic-glp1-guide
Explains how GLP-1 drugs work, who they’re for, expected benefits, and how they compare with other treatments.

GLP-1 Side Effects: Evidence vs Myth

Link: /guides/glp-1-side-effects-evidence-vs-myth
Separates documented side effects from unsubstantiated claims circulating online.

GLP-1 vs Bariatric Surgery

Link: /guides/glp-1-vs-bariatric-surgery
Compares risks, outcomes, and trade-offs between pharmacological and surgical weight-loss approaches.

GLP-1 Use in Non-Obese Adults

Link: /guides/glp-1-non-obese-use
Examines the evidence and considerations for GLP-1 use in people who are not clinically obese.

Muscle Protection During Weight Loss

Link: /guides/muscle-preservation
Shows why preserving lean muscle is essential for long-term health, especially during GLP-1 therapy or aggressive dieting.

Muscle Preservation on GLP-1 Medications

Link: /guides/muscle-preservation-glp1
Focuses specifically on strategies to mitigate lean-mass loss during GLP-1 therapy.

Lifestyle Foundations

These guides (current or planned) support medication use with solid lifestyle habits:

Creatine for Muscle & Brain Health
- Link: /guides/creatine
Protein Intake for Healthy Weight Loss (planned)
- How much protein you need, how to reach it, and why it matters for muscle and appetite.
Magnesium & Recovery (planned)
- Sleep, stress, and muscle function.
Collagen & Joint Health (planned)
- Where collagen fits (and doesn’t fit) in an evidence-based supplement plan.

Why We Treat Obesity as a Chronic Condition

Obesity is not a simple “willpower” problem. It is driven by:

genetics and biology
hormones and appetite signals
food environment and marketing
sleep, stress, and mental health

GLP-1 medications work best as part of a chronic-condition approach, not a short-term fix.

How to Use This Hub

Start with the GLP-1 overview
- Read: /guides/ozempic-glp1-guide
Understand the safety and risks
- Read: /guides/ozempic-cautions
Put muscle protection in place
- Read: /guides/muscle-preservation
- Consider: /guides/creatine
Discuss options with your clinician
- Take notes from the guides, including questions about risks, monitoring, and long-term plans.

/guides/obesity-risks (if/when available)
/guides/diabetes-basics (if/when available)