If you spend any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you have seen the constant debate about the safety of compounding pharmacies as they relate to GLP-1s and Peptides. This major topic of conversation in the world of GLP-1 weight loss medications, especially as demand for treatments like semaglutide and tirzepatide continues to rise, has taken over the internet. But with so much misinformation circulating, it’s important to understand what compounding pharmacies really do—and why they can play an essential role in personalized medicine.

GLP-1 medications have transformed the conversation around weight loss, but misinformation continues to create confusion and unrealistic expectations. There are so many myths that have been sensationalized by uninformed, uneducated and attention seeking influencers. Most of which are not true. In fact I’ve coached over 5000 patients and have never had a patient hospitalized for a single side effect.

Why is nutrition so complicated? Much of the confusion comes from “Instagram experts,” conflicting advice, and how our bodies are always changing. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach—our nutrition needs to change with our hormones, activity, and lifestyle and most studies show correlation, not causation, making it tough to pin down hard-and-fast rules.

In 2025, our understanding of GLP (glucagon-like peptide) weight loss medications has expanded significantly, revealing a range of potential benefits beyond just weight loss. One intriguing application of these medications is microdosing. Microdosing involves the administration of a smaller dose of GLP drugs not specifically for the purpose of losing weight, but rather to harness their broader therapeutic properties. These benefits can encompass weight maintenance, smoking cessation, enhanced mental clarity, and improved quality of sleep.

We live in a world chock-full of dogmatic fitness professionals who claim to be inclusive while actually excluding everyone who wants to try a different approach than what they are comfortable with. A perfect example of this is Jillian Michaels, who has appeared on numerous talk shows, proclaiming that GLP weight loss medications like Ozempic/Wegovy and Mounjaro/Zepbound are dangerous and dismissing those who use them as merely lazy. Despite the fact that GLPs have been successfully used in functional medicine for over 15 years, helping millions of people, she continues to spread this kind of propaganda.

I often emphasize the importance of coaching, and no, Google is not an adequate substitute. While I believe coaching is crucial, it doesn't have to be expensive. For patients using GLP medications like Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound), coaching is even more vital than for the average person. Unfortunately, doctors often lack the time to provide guidance on how to properly use these medications, often reducing it to simply "take the shot once a week." We all wish managing this process was that straightforward, but it isn't.