We can talk about GLP-1 medications in headlines and statistics, but for the millions of people currently on treatment, getting there was rarely an impulsive decision. For many, it meant months of watching from the sidelines, researching side effects, weighing risks, questioning motivations and wondering whether it was truly the right move.
Here, three real patients share what factored into their decisions—and what ultimately made them take the leap.
Ralph, 80
“I Thought I Was Too Old for This”
Height: 6’1"
Starting weight: 252
Current weight: 229
Total lost so far: 23 pounds
Goal: 10 more pounds
“When my daughter first brought it up, I didn’t take it seriously. I’m 80 years old. At this stage of life, you don’t rush into something new. I thought about it for about six months before I agreed to try it. My biggest fear was simple: what if this harms me? I kept asking myself what benefit I could possibly get at my age that would outweigh the risk.
When I was younger, weight was never an issue. I was active. I played sports. I worked physical jobs. I moved all the time. But after 50, things started to change. The weight settled in my stomach, and once it got there, it didn’t move. I wasn’t overeating. I wasn’t lazy. My body just wasn’t responding the way it used to.
What made me reconsider was when my daughter explained that the fat I was carrying wasn’t just about appearance. It could affect my heart. That made it about longevity. About quality of life. That’s different.
I’ve been on it about six months and I’ve lost 23 pounds. I’d like to lose about 10 more. But the number isn’t what stands out. I feel lighter and I walk more easily. Stairs don’t feel like work. Carrying groceries from the car into the house isn’t something I dread. I didn’t realize how much the extra weight was slowing me down until I felt the difference.
My appetite is lower now. I eat smaller portions and I’m satisfied. It feels natural, not like I’m withholding something from myself. That surprised me. I eat a lot better now and I go to the gym three times a week. Instead of walking like I was doing before, I focus on keeping light weights and building muscle. For someone who is approaching 81, I feel younger than I have in years.
If someone my age says they’re scared, I understand that. I was scared too. But I would tell them this: don’t let fear be the only reason you say no. Ask questions. Talk to your doctor. Think about how you want to feel day to day. For me, it wasn’t about looking different. It was about feeling better walking up a flight of stairs. And that’s worth something at any age.”
Shannon, 53
“Menopause and the Pandemic Hit Me at the Same Time”
Height: 5’6"
Starting weight: 162
Current weight: 140
Total lost so far: 22 pounds
Goal: 135
“It took me about six months to actually start. I didn’t wake up one day and decide to do it'; I really researched everything, but I kept asking myself if I really needed it or if I just needed more discipline.
I started my shots in late 2022, but the idea had been sitting with me for a while. A fearless friend of mine was on them first; she was the first person I knew who was on them and within what felt like six months, she lost 50 pounds. She didn’t overanalyze it the way I was. She just did it. Watching her succeed made me question whether I should try it, too. To be honest, she was kind of my guinea pig.
At the same time, the weight I had gained during the pandemic and menopause seemingly hit me at the same time. My hormones were shifting. I wasn’t sleeping well. I felt so much heavier, my pants were tighter and my dress size kept climbing. Because I went from working in an office to working from home, my routine disappeared overnight. I went from commuting, going to the office, stopping by the gym, to sitting in one place all day long. It was a giant lifestyle shift that I couldn’t just reverse.
Some of my family members have had issues with weight over the years, but I had never personally felt overweight before this phase of my life. Suddenly I felt puffier. Thicker. Like my body was working against me. I was working out. I was watching what I ate. But it felt like the rules had changed and no one told me.
What finally pushed me was realizing I was exhausted. I wasn’t looking for a shortcut. I was looking for support. After I started, the first thing I noticed wasn’t the number on the scale. It was the inflammation. The puffiness in my face and ankles went down. I looked less swollen. And the food noise—the constant mental chatter about what I was going to eat next—got quiet. That part was huge for me. I didn’t realize how much space food was taking up in my brain until it wasn’t.
I won’t pretend it’s perfect. The hair thinning has been frustrating. But I have no regrets. I don’t feel like I took the easy way out. I feel like I finally acknowledged that my body was changing and I needed a different kind of help.
If someone is on the fence, especially in their 40s or 50s going through hormonal shifts, I would say this: Be honest about what’s actually happening in your body. Menopause changes the game. You’re not weak if what used to work doesn’t work anymore. For me, starting wasn’t about giving up. It was about adapting.”
Jackie, 42
“I Had Already Lost 15 Pounds, and I Was Still Class I Obese”
Height: 5’10"
Starting weight: 230
Current weight: 158
Total lost so far: 72 pounds
Goal: Focused on maintenance and strength
"I started struggling with my weight around 2016. Before that, it wasn’t something I thought much about. But over the years, it slowly crept up, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t seem to get ahead of it.
By the beginning of 2023, I was 245 pounds. I consider myself athletic, and because of my job, I’m always active. I move all day. So it was frustrating because I didn’t feel sedentary or careless. I felt like I was trying.
In early 2023, I decided to really double down. I bought a Peloton. I went to boot camp. I dieted consistently. Over nine months, I lost 15 pounds. I was proud of that. It took discipline. But when my doctor told me that even after losing those 15 pounds, I was still medically classified as class I obese, that’s when it really hit me. I had worked that hard, and I was still in the same category.
I had known about GLP-1s for about a year at that point. I read the headlines. I heard the stories. But I didn’t jump in because I was scared of the long-term side effects. This was early on, and people were saying you’d get kidney damage or other internal problems. I also take other medications, so I worried about interactions. And there was a lot of talk about people gaining all the weight back. I didn’t want to make a decision too early and regret it.
What changed was sitting down with a health-care provider and having a real conversation. We went over my blood work. We talked through my medications and my concerns. It didn’t feel rushed. It felt individualized. That’s when it shifted from feeling trendy to feeling medical.
I started in October 2023. By January 2024, I had lost significantly more weight than I had in all those months of grinding on my own. At my lowest, I reached 158 pounds. In total, I lost about 85 pounds.
Right now, I’m still using it to maintain my weight, but I don’t necessarily see it as forever. I see it as a tool that helped me break through when my body wasn’t responding the way it used to.
If someone is on the fence, I would say don’t ignore the data. If you’re doing everything right and your labs or your BMI are still telling a different story, pay attention to that. Take your time. Ask questions. I waited a year because I needed to feel sure. Once I felt informed instead of scared, the decision felt clear.”
