Recently, AstraZeneca announced it would invest $50 billion in drug research and manufacturing over the next five years. At first glance, that sounds like great news—more innovation, better treatment options, and improved access to healthcare.
But let’s ask the deeper question: What kind of drugs are they investing in?
Chances are, a significant chunk of that funding will go toward GLP-1-based medications for weight loss. After all, these drugs are wildly profitable and in high demand. But do they actually solve the obesity crisis?
The Real Issue: Misdirected Resources
GLP-1 medications suppress appetite, but they don’t teach people how to eat better. They don’t address food deserts, nutrition education, or the flood of ultra-processed foods that dominate supermarket shelves.
What if even a fraction of that $50 billion were spent on:
- Nutrition education in schools
- Subsidies for fresh produce
- Cooking classes in underserved communities
Public campaigns on whole-food nutrition
That would be a game-changer.
Drugs like Ozempic might offer a quick fix, but real health begins with food—and food begins with education, access, and informed choices.
As consumers, patients, and citizens, we should be asking not just what medications are available—but why we need them in the first place.
GLP-1 drugs have skyrocketed in popularity for their ability to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. But as with any medication, short-term benefits often come with long-term tradeoffs—and that’s especially true here.
What Happens When You Keep Suppressing Hunger?
Your brain doesn’t send hunger signals just to annoy you—it does so because your body needs nutrients to survive. If you continually suppress those signals, you’re disrupting a biological system that has evolved over thousands of years to keep you healthy.
Here’s what can happen over time:
- Nutrient deficiencies from chronically low food intake
- Muscle loss due to insufficient protein consumption
- Malnutrition despite calorie reduction
- Weakened organs and poor cellular function
And remember—these medications weren’t designed to be taken for a few weeks or months. To maintain the weight loss, users are often told they’ll need to stay on the drug indefinitely.
The Rebound Effect
Worse still, many people regain the weight once they stop the medication. That’s because the underlying eating habits and nutrient imbalances were never addressed. The drug merely masked the symptoms.
Once the GLP-1 is removed, hunger comes roaring back—and the pounds follow.
In the next article, we’ll explore a safer, more sustainable way to lose weight: one that doesn’t involve lifelong injections or risking your health.
The Real Solution to Losing Weight and Keeping It Off
Here’s the core principle I want you to walk away with: eat for nutrition.
That’s it.
Forget drug-based solutions, restrictive diets, and theories that blame your brain or motivation. Your brain is working exactly as it should—it’s trying to protect you. But it can only work with what you give it. Feed it nutrient-dense foods, and you will feel full, satisfied, and less likely to overeat.
This means:
- Eating a wide variety of whole foods: fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, dairy, nuts, seeds.
- Reducing your reliance on grains and grain-based products to no more than 25–30% of your diet.
- Avoiding ultra-processed foods with high calories and low nutrient value.
This isn’t just theory. It’s the basis for my latest book, Beat Unwanted Weight Gain: 7 Ways to Lose Pounds and Never Regain Them. My seven methods are grounded in science and common sense. No drugs. No gimmicks. Just a deep understanding of how your brain and body work together to keep you alive.
Remember: hunger is not your enemy. Your body is not broken. You’re not addicted. You just need to eat the right foods in the right way. When you align with your biology, weight loss becomes natural, and maintenance becomes effortless.
You are always in control of your hunger, your cravings, and your choices. And your brain is always on your side.
John Poothullil practiced medicine as a pediatrician and allergist for more than 30 years, with 27 of those years in the state of Texas. He received his medical degree from the University of Kerala, India in 1968, after which he did two years of medical residency in Washington, DC and Phoenix, AZ and two years of fellowship, one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the other in Ontario, Canada. He began his practice in 1974 and retired in 2008. He holds certifications from the American Board of Pediatrics, The American Board of Allergy & Immunology, and the Canadian Board of Pediatrics.During his medical practice, John became interested in understanding the causes of and interconnections between hunger, satiation, and weight gain. His interest turned into a passion and a multi-decade personal study and research project that led him to read many medical journal articles, medical textbooks, and other scholarly works in biology, biochemistry, physiology, endocrinology, and cellular metabolic functions. This eventually guided Dr. Poothullil to investigate the theory of insulin resistance as it relates to diabetes. Recognizing that this theory was illogical, he spent a few years rethinking the biology behind high blood sugar and finally developed the fatty acid burn switch as the real cause of diabetes.Dr. Poothullil has written articles on hunger and satiation, weight loss, diabetes, and the senses of taste and smell. His articles have been published in medical journals such as Physiology and Behavior, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal of Women’s Health, Journal of Applied Research, Nutrition, and Nutritional Neuroscience. His work has been quoted in Woman’s Day, Fitness, Red Book and Woman’s World.Dr. Poothullil resides in Portland, OR and is available for phone and live interviews.To learn more buy the books at: amazon.com/author/drjohnpoothullil
Visit drjohnonhealth.com to learn more. You can also contact him at john@drhohnonhealth.com.
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