GLP-1 agonists have triggered the biggest shift in metabolic medicine in a generation. Prescriptions have surged, roughly one in eight adults in the US has now used one, and the global anti-obesity medication market is projected to exceed 80 billion US dollars by 2032.
For practitioners, this raises an urgent question: are these drugs a genuine miracle, a mirage built on aesthetics and marketing, or a minefield of metabolic and psychological risk? And perhaps most importantly, how do you advise you clients considering and currently taking these medications.
Dr Faryal Luhar is a Canadian-trained naturopathic doctor with 20 years of international experience across Canada, South Africa, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, with a clinical focus on women’s metabolic and hormone health, circadian biology and longevity.
In this two-part series, Faryal gives you a thorough, balanced grounding in GLP-1 therapy.
Part 1 covers the pharmacology, mechanisms of action and genuine systemic benefits of these medications, alongside their adverse effects, red flags, drug interactions and the ethical questions raised by their rapid uptake.
Part 2 moves into practical application: a clinical assessment framework for consultations, naturopathic strategies for managing gastrointestinal side effects, hydration and bowel care, protecting lean muscle and bone, and supporting patients’ relationship with food and their mental health throughout treatment.
Throughout both sessions, Faryal returns to a consistent theme: GLP-1 medication is one tool, not a complete solution, and the natural healthcare provider has a genuine and valuable role to play before, during and after treatment.
