The rapid rise of GLP-1 treatments has transformed the conversation around weight management and metabolic health. However, molecular biologist Dr. Alexis Jasmine argues that the long-term effects of these may be far more significant than many people realize.
Speaking on the Danny Jones podcast, Jasmine explained that GLP-1 pathways are naturally involved in appetite regulation, energy use and communication between the body and its environment. According to her, signals such as food intake and sunlight can stimulate related biological processes, including the production of molecules that promote satiety and increase energy expenditure.
Her concern is that GLP-1 treatments may activate these pathways while a person is still consuming too little energy. In this scenario, the brain receives a signal suggesting that sufficient energy is available, even as the body is operating in a deficit.
She stated, “What the GLP-1 d**gs are doing is they’re tricking the body into thinking they have an abundance of energy. And so, then that’s shutting down appetite and increasing energy expenditure. However, the problem is there’s actually an energy deficit.’
Jasmine described this as a conflict in the body’s energy-management system.
She continued, “And so, these are very conflicting signals. So, essentially, the body thinks it has ample resources to do what it needs to do, but it’s actually completely depleting resources.”
The potential consequence, she suggested, may extend beyond fat loss. She pointed to reports that some users lose lean tissue, including muscle and bone mass, along with body fat.
Jasmine noted, “A lot of people are losing a lot of lean mass in addition to fat mass. So, like bone mass, muscle mass, tendons.”
From her perspective as a researcher who studied metabolism during her PhD at Princeton, this raises questions about whether prolonged GLP-1 use could affect the cellular systems responsible for producing energy.
Mitochondria, often described as the cell’s energy-producing structures, require carefully regulated nutrients and signals to function properly. Jasmine proposed that long-term manipulation of appetite and energy expenditure could place stress on these systems, although she acknowledged that the relevant research has not yet been conducted in sufficient depth.
The timeline of existing research is another issue. GLP-1 therapies began being studied in humans decades ago, primarily in the context of type 2 diabetes. Yet the widespread use of these treatment for weight loss is relatively recent. Jasmine noted that many current studies span only a few years, while longer investigations are still underway.
She also questioned what happens when people discontinue treatment. Without a broader plan involving nutrition, movement and sustainable lifestyle changes, she suggested that lost weight may return, potentially leaving users dependent on continued treatment.
