On GLP-1’s. An argument for the human spirit.

In this article we’ll cover GLP-1 drugs. We’ll start by discussing their popularity, projected increased use and what they are prescribed for. Then I’ll argue for a more traditional weight loss route while highlighting a part of this process that is almost always overlooked-the spiritual development that comes with mastering our desires.

GLP-1 drugs are all the rage. “The global GLP-1 receptor agonist market size was estimated at USD 66.38 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 185.32 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2026 to 2033. GLP-1 receptor agonists have become an important therapeutic class for managing type 2 diabetes and obesity through mechanisms that enhance insulin secretion, suppress glucagon release, delay gastric emptying, and promote satiety.”- GRANDVIEW RESEARCH

Novo Nordisk who released the fantastically popular Wegovy is the largest company by market cap in Denmark and is the 8th largest by the same measure in all of the European Union. This is big business.

What are GLP-1 agonists?

“GLP-1 agonists are a class of medications that mainly help manage blood sugar (glucose) levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Some GLP-1 agonists can also help treat obesity.

GLP-1 agonists are most often injectable medications, meaning you inject a liquid medication with a needle and syringe. You give the shots in the fatty tissue just under your skin (subcutaneous injection). Areas of your body you can give the injections include your belly, outer thighs, upper buttocks and the backs of your arms.”- Cleveland Clinic

Do they work?

In short-yes. Clinical research has shown that patients may lose 10-15% of their bodyweight over several months. Many of these medications have been approved for weight management in addition to diabetes treatment.

Are they safe?

Like most medications they can cause side effects. These are reported particularly often when starting treatment. 

Common side effects include- Nausea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal discomfort. In rare cases more serious complications can occur, according to Harvard Health Publishing these may include- Pancreatitis, Gastroparesis-freezing of the stomach, bowel obstruction- blocking food from moving through the intestines, and gallstone attacks or bile duct blockage.

Ethereal over material

I understand why one would take one of these drugs. It seems like simple arithmetic. I'm overweight, I can take this pill or shot to lose weight. Viola. I'd argue that this is a reductive materialist solution to a deeper issue.                                                                                                      This perspective disregards the human spirit. It ignores the innate need for humans to overcome their more primitive nature. Church Fathers would call it our "passions" like gluttony, lust, laziness etc. In the Buddhist tradition temptations are often personified as Māra(demon)— the “Lord of Death” or “Tempter” — who represents the forces that hinder enlightenment. 

Modernity is selling to us that our passions, our temptations are our genetic destiny. Telling us that we couldn’t possibly defeat this disposition weaved into our very nature. My message is the opposite. That as Ryan Holliday famously covered in his best selling book “The Obstacle is the Way”.

Managing your weight and blood sugar through diet and exercise is indeed an obstacle, and there is massive personal, physical and spiritual growth on the other side of that obstacle. The lessons absorbed into your being while mastering this discipline are nearly endless and have a fractal like cascading effect on all aspects of your life. Developing the discipline to get up as soon as your alarm rings to hit a 6am workout when you don’t want to can and likely will lead to you making more money. Being in control of your diet and body will make the dating market open up for you. Sharpening your determination and will via consistent daily practice can make you a force of nature. Your will and discipline shaping your daily life around you, instead of your passions or temptations shaping and shortening the future of your existence.

I’ve helped people defeat these demons for 15 years. It was never easy. It took early mornings, there were sacrifices made in diet, time spent in the gym early and late, and along the way there were often questioning voices, is it working? Am I always going to be this way? Maybe I’m a non-responder, maybe being this way is my destiny. But with persistence many of those who kept showing up ended up losing over 50lbs, found that healthy eating and exercise was actually an incredibly fun journey for them, made lifelong friends, even found romantic partners at gym in the process. These stand in stark contrast to the side effects of GLP-1 drugs.

To me you are not just material, not just a bag of bones and flesh. There is a will, an animating spirit, an ethereal being that wants to be challenged, wants to be disciplined, wants to master its nature. Technology cannot and will never be able to deliver you through this rite. It is a path you must carve the old fashioned way.