Should You Use a GLP-1 Medication to Lose the Last 5 to 10 Pounds?
Lately, I’ve noticed a significant increase in the number of clients asking about GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy, Zepbound, and compounded alternatives to lose the “last 5 to 10 pounds.”
And it has me asking a simple question: To what end?
To be clear, I see tremendous value in GLP-1 medications. I’ve worked with many individuals living with obesity who have experienced meaningful improvements in health, quality of life, blood sugar management, and cardiometabolic risk factors. For many, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
But the conversation feels different when someone is already at a healthy BMI and wants to lose a relatively small amount of weight, often for aesthetic reasons.
That’s where I encourage clients to pause and think about the long-term picture. When the goal is losing the last 5 to 10 pounds, the question becomes less about whether GLP-1 medications work and more about whether the benefits justify the cost, commitment, and long-term reliance on medication.
The Way You Lose Weight Is Often the Way You Keep It Off
One of the realities of weight management is that the method used to lose weight is often the method required to maintain it.
GLP-1 medications work by altering appetite regulation and reducing food intake. For many individuals, weight loss is maintained only while the medication is continued. Research consistently shows that a significant portion of lost weight is regained when treatment is stopped.
This isn’t a failure of motivation or willpower. It’s biology. Our bodies are remarkably good at defending body weight. So the question becomes:
If a medication is helping you maintain a lower weight, are you willing to continue taking it indefinitely?
For someone living with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or significant cardiometabolic risk, that may be an easy “yes.” For someone else hoping to go from a size 6 to a size 4, the calculation may look very different.
My Own Experience with the “Last 10 Pounds”
After having my son in 2022, I found myself about 10 pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight.
As a dietitian, I knew exactly what to do. I have a master’s degree in nutrition, stayed active throughout the postpartum period, breastfed for months, and even talked my husband into training for a half marathon with me.
And yet it still took me nearly a year to lose those final pounds.
Looking back, there was a lot going on. Sleep deprivation. Stress. Hormonal changes. A complete shift in identity and routine.
At the time, I desperately wanted to feel like myself again. I wanted to recognize the person looking back at me in the mirror. So I carry a great deal of empathy for anyone struggling with those same feelings.
But I also wonder what would have happened if I had reached for a medication before giving myself time to build a lifestyle that supported the weight I wanted to maintain.
What Are You Really Hoping to Gain?
As a dietitian, I’m less interested in whether GLP-1 medications work. There is ample evidence supporting their effectiveness. What interests me more is the outcome someone is actually seeking.
Will losing 10 pounds improve your health, mobility, confidence, or quality of life? Or is the expectation that once those pounds are gone, you’ll finally feel satisfied with your body?
Those are very different goals.
The arrival of highly effective weight-loss medications has changed what’s possible, but it has also changed our expectations. Historically, maintaining a very lean physique often required exceptional genetics, substantial effort, or both. Today, medications make that outcome more accessible. That doesn’t necessarily mean everyone should pursue it.
When clients ask me whether they should use a GLP-1 medication to lose the last 5 to 10 pounds, I come back to the same question:
To what end?
What matters isn’t whether the weight can come off, but whether the path required to keep it off aligns with the life we want to live.
Ready to Strengthen Weight Management and Obesity Care in Your Practice?
Are you looking to build, refine, or expand weight management and obesity treatment services within your practice? I offer flexible, consultative support designed to meet the needs of busy clinics and healthcare organizations.
My work focuses on evidence-based obesity care, including nutrition therapy, behavior change support, and clinical guidance for patients using incretin-based therapies. I emphasize practical strategies that support metabolic health, preserve lean mass, and promote sustainable outcomes.
Let me help you develop patient-centered weight management services that integrate seamlessly into clinical care. Book a discovery call to explore how we might work together.
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