In the last couple of blogs on this topic, we’ve talked about what GLP 1s actually do, why they work so well for appetite regulation, and why they’ve landed with such force in the weight loss and metabolic health space.
This week feels like a natural next step in the story.
Because the conversation has shifted from “do these drugs work?” to “who can actually get them, and how?”
And that’s where things get interesting.
The big news, GLP 1s without injections
Novo Nordisk, the company behind Wegovy and Ozempic, has now launched the first oral GLP 1 pill for weight loss in the US.
No weekly injections.
Just a daily tablet.
On paper, this is a big deal. Pills feel more familiar, more acceptable, and for a lot of people, far less intimidating than needles. The CEO of Novo Nordisk has been pretty open about their thinking here, oral GLP 1s could dramatically widen the market simply because more people are willing to try them.
From a public health perspective, that matters.
But access isn’t just about form factor.
The uncomfortable truth about access
One of the most revealing parts of the recent interviews wasn’t about the pill at all.
It was this, around 1.5 million Americans are already using compounded or copycat GLP 1 drugs from non approved pharmacies.
Why?
Because they’re cheaper.
Because insurance coverage is patchy.
Because demand has massively outpaced supply.
People didn’t choose the grey market because they’re reckless. They chose it because the system didn’t give them many other options.
That alone should make us pause.
Pills don’t magically fix pricing
The hope is that oral GLP 1s improve access, and they probably will, to a degree.
But the early reality looks familiar.
Without insurance, monthly costs are still significant.
With insurance, coverage varies wildly.
So while the pill removes the needle barrier, it doesn’t remove the affordability barrier.
This is why compounded versions took off in the first place, not because people wanted shortcuts, but because they wanted entry.
What this means for real humans, not headlines
Here’s where I think this matters most for those of us working in health and coaching spaces.
GLP 1s are clearly not a fad.
They’re evolving quickly.
Delivery methods are improving.
Competition is coming.
But none of that replaces the need for education, behaviour change, and support.
A pill might make it easier to start.
It doesn’t teach you how to eat when appetite returns.
It doesn’t build muscle, resilience, or metabolic capacity.
And it doesn’t solve the psychological side of weight loss.
That’s not anti GLP 1.
That’s just reality.
The bigger question going forward
If oral GLP 1s really do open the door to millions more people, then the question becomes,
What systems do we put around them?
Who supports people when they stop?
Who helps them eat enough protein?
Who helps preserve lean mass?
Who helps them transition from medication to long term habits, if that’s the goal?
Because access without guidance is just another swing of the pendulum.
Where this leaves us
This latest development doesn’t change the core message from the earlier blogs.
GLP 1s are powerful tools.
They are not complete solutions.
And how we use them matters more than ever.
The pill is coming.
The demand is already here.
Now the real work begins. 🧠💪
Want that support you’ll need if you take these drugs? Hit me up for a chat today.