Weight loss medications don't have to be all good or all bad. And I think we've lost sight of that in the conversation surrounding them.
Before I dive into this topic, I want to share something a little more personal.
"Two things can be true" has become one of my favourite sayings lately. It's something that has come up repeatedly through therapy and a lot of personal and professional reflection and healing, particularly as I've transitioned away from bedside nursing.
After spending so many years working in healthcare, I've had to unpack a lot of experiences, perspectives, and beliefs. And one of the most valuable things I've learned is that two seemingly opposing feelings, experiences, or perspectives can exist at the same time without one invalidating the other.
I can be grateful for my years at the bedside and acknowledge the toll they took on me. I can love nursing and recognize that certain parts of it were no longer healthy for me. I can appreciate what those experiences gave me while also working through what they cost me.
It's been a surprisingly powerful shift in how I process things, both personally and professionally. And the more I embrace it, the more I recognize how often we try to force complicated situations into being either right or wrong, good or bad.
Which brings me to the conversation around weight loss medications.
Two Things Can Be True
GLP-1 medications have become one of the most polarizing topics in health and wellness. Depending on who you listen to, they're either a revolutionary advancement in healthcare or another example of diet culture, pharmaceutical greed, and society's obsession with thinness.
But I think we're missing something important in trying to make them one or the other.
Two things can be true at the same time.
These medications can be life-changing for someone struggling with binge eating or persistent food-related thoughts. They can also be incredibly harmful for someone living with anorexia or another restrictive eating disorder.
They can be aggressively marketed by pharmaceutical companies motivated by profit. They can also represent a significant medical advancement in managing obesity, reducing chronic disease risk, and improving quality of life.
They can be safe, effective, and well-tolerated. They can also be misused, poorly prescribed, or associated with serious adverse effects.
For some people, the benefits far outweigh the risks. For others, those risks may not be worth taking.
The messaging coming out of Hollywood and social media can feel devastating to a culture that has worked hard to move toward body acceptance. It can reinforce the idea that smaller bodies are somehow more valuable, desirable, or worthy.
At the same time, the growing conversation around these medications has given a voice to people, particularly women, who have spent years feeling dismissed, blamed, or unheard by their healthcare providers when seeking support for their weight and metabolic health.
And here's another one I think we need to talk about.
Encouraging someone to take a medication can be medical advice.
But discouraging someone from taking that same medication can also be medical advice.
Both carry influence. Both deserve thoughtful consideration, particularly when that advice comes from healthcare professionals or people with large platforms.
We Need More Nuance, Not More Division
As a Registered Nurse and Nutrition Coach, I see the value of these medications. I also recognize their limitations, risks, and the importance of appropriate assessment, education, and ongoing support.
I don't believe everyone living with obesity needs medication. I also don't believe someone should have to exhaust every possible lifestyle intervention before they're deserving of a conversation about medical treatment.
And I certainly don't believe that choosing medication represents failure, just as choosing not to use it doesn't make someone more disciplined or committed to their health.
Our conversations about weight, health, and medication need to leave room for individual circumstances, personal values, medical history, and informed decision-making.
We can advocate for body positivity while supporting access to evidence-based obesity treatment.
We can question pharmaceutical marketing while acknowledging scientific advancement.
We can recognize the benefits of medication while being honest about its risks.
And we can respect someone's decision to use medication just as much as we respect someone's decision not to.
We don't need to choose sides to have meaningful conversations about health.
If there's one thing my own experiences over the past few years have taught me, it's that acknowledging one truth doesn't mean we have to dismiss another.
Because two things can be true. And often, they are.
At Empowered Wellness, my approach to health, nutrition, and weight management is individualized, evidence-informed, and free from judgment. Whether you're exploring medication-supported weight management or focusing on nutrition, strength, and lifestyle changes, the goal is to help you make informed decisions that support your long-term health.
Interested in exploring what support might look like for you? Book a free consultation to discuss your goals and find an approach that fits your needs.
