Should You Take Weight Loss Drugs? 

I really love how compassionate and persuasive Mike’s takes are. He mentions his interest sometimes in principles of logic and debate, and it genuinely really shines especially in videos like this where he manages to come off as sympathetic to any given side of the topic while thoroughly disagreeing with their conclusion and presenting extremely well thought out arguments. I feel like he does a great job modeling professionalism and I’ve learned a ton from this content both in terms of the direct information and like just being a better citizen in a sense

We need more philosophy, more rants, more of this style of Dr. Mike. The main videos are amazing, but this is the cherry on the cake for me. +++The new set-up is so casual! Love it!

I spent my entire 20's overweight, ultimately ending up at 525 pounds by the time I was 32. At that point, I started slowly figuring out how to manage my hunger and lose weight, now at 37 I am down to 320 pounds and still dropping. If I could go back and address my issues at 22 with medication and have an actual life instead of spending 6 years learning would I do it? Absolutely.

Hot take: If we can help people without creating additional problems for them, then we should. I lost weight and got in shape the hard way. If someone else can't do it, I'd love for them to have an easier option.

I forget how wide Dr Mike's delts are with the usual lecture black background. The new set has obliterated my forgetfulness.

As someone on Ozempic I’d like to throw in some anecdotes. 1) yes, eating healthier is important and I have always striven to that but after marriage and having to cook and feed people who refuse to eat healthy food that has been near impossible. I’ve spent a decade gaining weight and declining health in part due to dietary constraints placed on me by others. Having a doctor prescribe me Ozempic has helped this in two ways. The obvious way is that I can eat less and not feel hungry. That’s a huge win. Eating a small bowl of food twice a day and feeling full and happy is a great experience. The other way it has helped is that it served as a wake up call to other people that all my nutritional and medical citations I made about what we eat aren’t wrong because a doctor backed them up. 2) Having a narrow amount of food that I want to eat per day encourages me to eat nutritionally dense food and track my macros. Some of Dr Mike’s books have actually come in handy for that. So thank you. 3) I’ve always had a ravenous hunger that turns into crippling pain when I don’t eat above a certain volume of food. The doctors have never seen anything wrong with this, which has always seemed odd to me. Ozempic has neutralized this. I’m no longer in constant intestinal distress and I devote almost no time worrying about what and when I can eat next to soothe the pain. 4) I’ve always had severe social anxiety, which I think is attributable to hormones. Overnight after starting Ozempic that decreased and has decreased significantly over time. It’s a huge win and has helped me out significantly in my professional life and in the gym because I’m less afraid to ask for help and make contact with people. For the first several months I leaned on it as a crutch to just eat less. Over time the results were enough to help convince myself to push back more for eating healthier and to get others to chime in supporting me, which is something I’ve never managed on my own. That extends beyond family. Friends, co-workers, and acquaintances have all become more supportive of healthier eating habits and lifestyle choices because of the weight they’ve seen me drop. Whereas before they’d almost universally written me off or openly mocked me when I’d discuss why I was as obese as I was. Ozempic has been a new lease on life for me, but that’s my anecdote. I understand that many people will just use it as a quick fix. That’s their right. I hope they use it as a jumping off point for greater lifestyle changes.

I lost 100lbs on ozempic over 2 years. I'm currently at year 3 and have since hired a bodybuilding coach and have caught the bodybuilding bug. I learned how to eat, how to lift, how to meal prep, and how to count macros. I used my time on the drug to learn to change my habits and have been off the drug and totally fine and loving my bodybuilding lifestyle. Now that I know how to eat I'm never hungry but if I didn't have the help in the beginning I don't know if I would've learned what I know now. Thanks for this vid Dr. Mike.

Damn, this set looks like Dr Mike is bringing you in for an interrogation followed by some HIIT waterboarding.

It’s nice to see that mike has successfully mugged enough people to finally afford a background lamp

As someone with messed up hunger signaling, I appreciate the empathy displayed in this video. I spend loads of time every day hungry and wishing I could eat just to maintain my weight.

You guys either have a really good comment moderator here, or you've somehow fostered a community in the fitness space that's not plagued with fat shaming and fat people hate. I'm going to go ahead and guess it's comment moderation. Great work, mods!

About 2-3 years ago, my wife was prescribed Ozempic for the diabetes. The appetite suppression was unexpected, and turned out to be a godsend. In the past 2 years, she has lost 68 pounds. If there are any side effects, neither of us have noticed. That stuff works.

This is probably the most well rounded take on these drugs I’ve seen yet.

Thank you so much for the mature take Dr Mike. I work full time as a Data Scientist at a Hospital at the same time as studying for a Masters. I hit the gym 3 times a week, I swim the other 4 days a week. The ability to work hard isn't an issue for me. But I am overweight because my body is constantly craving food. Even when I'm eating healthily the amount of food it takes to feel satiated (and to be clear I mean satiated, not full and fully realize there is a difference) puts me in a calorie surplus. These drugs have been a gamechanger for me and it's nice to see a more mature, evidence based opinion.

The argument on "if we had robots do our chores for us, we could could focus our time on higher value add activites" hit home. Heard a story from my girlfriends dad. They asked his grandmother who was born in like 1890 or something what the greatest technological advancement she lived through was. They thought maybe electricity, or improved plumbing or cars etc. Without skipping a beat "indoor heat" was her #1. It immediately solved the heating problem. Prior to this a ton of time in the day was spent collecting wood/fuel, splitting/preparing fuel and stoking the furnace. That ~2-3 hours a day was just given back to everyone and now its completely taken for granted.

I like your analogy of the “problem pile.” I think the myth of “getting rid of problems makes you a pussy” is spread by grumpy old people. Like the ones who say “they walked uphill both ways to school.”

Great video Dr. Mike! I lost 75 pounds the "hard" way and still struggle to maintain because food is basically always on my mind. I use an app. to track daily calories/macros just to maintain because I know I can't just eat as I want as I basically always feel hungry. My wife is the exact opposite genetically. She does nothing to track what she eats and can maintain a healthy weight without any effort. Right now these drugs aren't approved for me because I no longer meet the obesity requirements, but hopefully someday they'll be made more available.

If the media and pharm companies would present and market these drugs this way, they would not get nearly as much pushback. As always the croc master Dr. Mike beings us the real fair and balanced perspective. Much love Doc!!💪🏻

I love that you say someone’s hunger is genetic! Almost never see people who are in shape talk about this. My brain is constantly telling me to eat eat and then eat some more. It’s a non stop fucking battle

As always your perspectives are so much more measured and deeper than almost anyone else, it's greately appreciated.

I like your rants and takes and such, not only because you are highly educated and experienced so you provide good insight, but you are also just genuinely funny and entertaining to listen to. I'm excited to see what you are considering that has you asking this question!

I know this is a year old video, but you asked if we’d like more content. Yes I would. I’ve been binge watching your videos for over two months now. I found you through researching TRT. Which I’ve decided to do after weighing your options of if it’s worth it or not. Labs came back at under 250 and I was starting to notice cognitive and emotional changes. Starting TRT has reinvigorated me to get back into the gym.. Watching your videos has shown me a lot of the mistakes I made when I was younger. This week I’m going to get the RP diet app. I’ve always “attempted” to take care of myself best I could, but never researched any details. I was convinced to do the KETO diet, which I was able to stick with for almost two years and decreased my weight from 305 down to 230. I felt myself starting to rebound and couldn’t get back into KETO because (honestly after awhile it just sucks.) As a staple it suited me well, but when carb cravings it was two easy to hit a snickers bar instead of some fruit because I had deprived myself for so long. As part of making my 40s and beyond the best part of my life I wanted to find a responsible way to have a balanced diet and I’m convinced that periodization is the right way. I’m following the steps you’ve outlined. Scheduling my meals and eating Whole Foods consistently for two weeks which has gotten me down to 240, but keto not being a calorie restricted diet (mentally). I’m not sure I could have combated the hunger cravings without the help of semaglutide. So I really appreciate this video in particular. I never struggled with willpower the junk food thing only came after keto. My carb of choice has always been rice and mashed potatoes. But mentally I’ve always over eaten and struggle to feel satiated. Ozempic for me is a crutch to not get discouraged while I’m learning new skills in diet and reinvigorating my enthusiasm for the gym. Honestly I’m all in on the RP culture if that is a thing. I found FitBod before I found RP and already paid for the year, but as soon as that’s up I plan on switching to the hypertrophy app and am currently applying the principles for periodization into the workouts provided by that app. With the information your company gives out for free it’s honestly made FitBod obsolete. At this point it’s mostly just inspiration for tricking myself into progressive overload when my mind says I’m not ready yet. Please continue with the great content.

I very much enjoy the way you portray every topic I have heard you speak on. You develop arguments and counter-arguments in a very easy to follow manner while still interjecting comedic relief. If you would have been my teacher/professor for every class in my life, I would have had no fear in going for a doctorate.

I welcome more rants! They're factually informed and both cogently and convincingly presented--which is to say, they're valuable. I thank you, Dr. Mike!

Great setup, definitely not the old layout with the background, but I like this more. Definitely ramble on more with whatever else you'd like to talk about, as well.

Dr Mike you are just a godsend in this world of misinformation, poor education, dry humor, and gym bro science. You one by one body slam, choke hold and RKO all these issues and tackle things I feel I’ve heard all my life and you’ve done it with verifiable data that has improved my fitness journey not only physically but mentally and I really just wish that more people could find you. Everyone needs a Dr Mike in their life, thank you for everything

I agree with you 100% on the feeling of being "empowered". I didn't know or believe I could ever be in good shape, I was at a minimum chubby my whole life and at my worst clinically obese (36%) body fat. It wasn't until I grinded and dropped over 50 pounds while lifting to try and build/keep some muscle that I really felt, wow man you CAN do this. I still am not anything to look at, but from where I came? Its night and day, seeing myself at low 20% BF now is all the motivation I need to keep going. Its built into me now, I know I can do it, I just want to keep improving. The pill could have had this same effect on me, or can on someone else.

I always listen to Dr. Mike as his intelligence and attention to detail is off the charts!! Thanks again brother this is great info

Dude, 30% of my mental power is spent on supressing the urge to eat. If I could keep my current form (roughly 13% bf) by taking a pill, give me that stuff right now. More pretty girls around, everyone is looking good and lean like it was intended, I'm all for it.

Always want to hear more of you Dr Mike, on any subject!

Thank you for making this. So many people are thinking 1 step ahead instead of thinking 5 steps ahead. Mike summed it up pretty much perfectly.

Love hearing your perspectives on aspects of life as you seem to make pretty reasonable and rational takes on most things imo…. Much respect Dr. Mike 🤘🏽

I don't know if you anticipated how applicable this lecture would be to areas outside of fitness, but it totally is, even when you were just talking about the drugs. I didn't even see the last 3rd coming, but keep em coming! 💪😄👍

A weekly or biweekly rant/philosophy/getting to know Dr. Mike would be absolutely... lovely. Thanks for all you do.

This is a really encouraging take. I really struggle with cravings whenever I'm on a fat loss phase, it makes it unbearable and I've never been able to keep the weight off. Been looking into these drugs lately and wanted Dr. Mike's take, and his thorough and empathetic position really helped ease my mind.

I'm convinced type of food has a lot to do with hunger signalling. Years ago I was a live-in Nanny to 3 kids. For 5 days a week I was responsible for their breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the weekends, their (junk-food addicted) Dad took over. I fed the kids mainly home made meals from scratch, nothing fancy but food mostly in its natural form. For lunches I made them wholegrain sandwiches to take to school; protein, some salad veggies, some fruit, and nuts and dried fruit or cheese for snacks. They always came home with energy. On the days their Dad fed them - mostly Maccers for lunch, they were coming to me an hour after lunch complaining of hunger, asking for a sandwich or a banana. I knew what they had eaten was double, two and a half times the calories of the lunches I made them, but they were hungry anyway. Unfortunately I was not allowed to feed them because I was 'off' on weekends (and it was heart-breaking) but their hunger after fast food was apparent, compared to the more natural, higher fibre, lower sugar food I fed them. This highlighted for me how a lot of junk food simply isn't satisfying long enough, and hunger kicks in too soon. So of course, people buy more because they're still hungry.

Great video. I'm at 32 BMI and been dieting and taking semaglutide 0.25 for 3 weeks, and even though it's not supposed to be a clinically effective dose, I can tell it's made dieting much easier. I no longer have serious hunger, and sometimes even struggle to eat 2000 calories. I'm even afraid of upping the dose since it's so effective lol. This really makes me feel like obesity will be a solved problem when more people got on it.

I would love to hear you rant/ramble about anything! I love your sense of humor! 🙏🏼😄

Love the video. Probably my favorite you’ve done. So much compassion but still super well thought out

Love the new set, looks amazing and makes Dr Mike look even more jacked that he already is.

Ozempic has helped me greatly. This was started due to my diabetes. I still eat healthy but this has helped me drop weight which is important. Ozempic is not a replacement for eating properly and exercising. It is in addition to. Your point is correct with me. I am more encouraged to eat better and lift more because I get a better bang for the effort. I am down to 240 from 280. I need to get under 200. This is helping. You nailed this.

I recently discovered this channel, I basically signed up for lectures, comedy, and actual enlightenment. Ty!

I don't always comment on your videos but I watch them all. This was one of my absolute favorites since you cover what I always thought about progress and life. There's always the next problem to solve.

I'm all for it. I started with weight lifting. When I reached my weightlifting goals, it spurred me into trying weight loss. When I hit my weight loss goal, it spurred me into doing cardio. What will happen when I reach my cardio goals? No idea, but I bet it'll be interesting.

Yes, more philosophy, more rants. Everything you put out is high quality.

What an amazing video and amazing perspective. So respectful, thoughtful, well delivered, and down to earth way to look at this situation. If only more people could be so wonderfully adapted to working with and accepting, and redelivering information in ways like this. Absolutely amazing.

Keep it up! The content is excellent, love hearing your take on social and philosophical issues, and I've even been able to apply what I learned from you to help out clients of my own.

I'm interested in your rants Mike, great video as always

I'm watching this video (and all of RP's videos) because I want to gain more lean muscle mass so I can live a healthier and more active life. I want to gain more lean Muscle Mass because I recently lost 100 pounds and am no longer obese for the first time since college. I recently lost 100 pounds because I had gastric sleeve surgery. I had gastric sleeve surgery because for some reason the same willpower that got me a PhD, a great career in leadership, and many other huge life achievements wasn't enough to allow me to ignore my hunger. The surgery didn't solve all my problems, and it sure as hell wasn't the easy way out (nor is Ozempic). What the surgery did is reduce both my stomach capacity and my hunger hormones enough to give me the ability and bandwidth to take on a higher class of health problem than simply white-knuckling my steering wheel as I drove past Wendy's on the way home. Problems like whether I can eventually squat my body weight one of these fine days. :-)

Thanks Dr Mike for this video essay - it was much needed 😊

Bro. The value in listening to this. Dr Mike, you magnificent beast.

I just subbed and I'm binge watching. I started my weightloss journey in 2014? I think. I was 325 -330 and struggled horribly with appetite. I would go from under eating to over eating for years trying to figure it out. I'm 250 ..... yeah. Still working through appetite issues but I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I failed so many times I kinda wish this existed back in 2014. Anyways love your videos. Learning some new information and hopefully buy the end of this year I'll be 220 which was my goal back in 2014.

Why would people be upset about obese people finally having an easier time getting healthy? These people deserve what it feels like to be at a normal weight and happy with their body. Making it easier to improve other people's quality of life is one of the best things sciencs can do.

This is my 2nd favorite video on this channel, second only to the one where Dr Mike explained the 6 constructs of adherence ("Getting motivated to lose fat through dieting"). Also, yes. Ranting about life, philosophy and other stuff would be highly appreciated.

One of the classics here Dr. Mike. Keep it up. Thank you

I love the rants!

Anecdotally, modafinil is great for appetite suppression, but tolerance does build over a few months and can disrupt sleep significantly. It didn't work well for me.

Loved your take on all of this Dr. Mike. I also get super excited when thinking about all the progress and advances we have been able to make on all fronts of technology and pharmacology. I think one trap even well-meaning people can fall into is conflating the idea that "overcoming adversity is good for you" with "all adversity is good". But sometimes, there really is just needless suffering, and the more of those problems we can solve, the better! I'm excited to continue to work towards paradise!

Great rant Mike. I love it! Please do more in the future. Thanks.

No matter how much you dress it up, there’s always a trade off.

Genetic boost? Yes, please!

Your rants are what gives the TFR membership so much value. Science stuff is pretty good too, but the rants are 😩🤌

Mike this was great. Yes we want more. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication

I could definitely use more Dr. Mike rants. Please and thank you!

I think this is a GREAT video, but I also think you significantly underplayed the side effects of these drugs. They are incredibly powerful and useful, but they certainly do have serious side effects for many people.

I started out in the “ Just use willpower camp.” By the end of the video you brought me around to your way of thinking. If it can help people stay at a healthier weight, that’s a good thing. I’ve seen so many folks at the gym that are overweight and give up. They work soooo hard and don’t see results. I can’t imagine how disheartening that must be.

I would love to see more videos “arguing to convince” style on different topics linked to sports science, future tech, philosophy & economics. You do such a good job of steel manning opposing arguments and picking them apart that often times you will articulate things I’ve felt for years but could never quite put into words. Makes us all better thinkers.

l love a good Dr. Mike Rant, would definitely listen to more. also if you don't already have any videos out on basic gym/fitness terms and etiquette (myo reps, meso cycle, don't curl in the squat rack etc.) would love to see that for beginners such as myself.

I've been on semaglutide since the end of November and have lost 22 lbs. I completely agree with all the points in this video.

My dad has struggled with disordered eating for as long as I’ve been alive. The last few years he’s tried really hard to eat in what he believes is the healthiest way possible for his goals. A few months ago, he started taking senaglutide. I have watched as he has lost all hunger, lost the little bit of muscle he has had, and gain fat because he only eats garbage because “nothing tastes good” when he’s not hungry.

Great talk and I fully resonate with your arguments. I'd love more of these videos.

Thanks for this Dr. Mike. I came to you and RP through Adam Ragusea. Adam and other Internet chefs have helped me improve my cooking skills to make healthier food choices. I've gone through the weight management mill for most of my life. I crushed my BMI from 45 to 35 to qualify for hip surgery and ballooned back up when my right foot collapsed. I learned how to wrap my foot with athletic tape to allow me to walk (which is part of my job as a land steward for a land trust in Ohio). I needed something to help with my appetite and Ozempic is helping. Reduced hunger, reduced portions, and weight loss. Not to say there haven't been uncomfortable side effects, cuz there have been, but in general manageable. I appreciate your discussion on the topic and will continue along this weight management journey.

A couple of counterpoints I’m not sure you answered that I’ve heard from some other fitness types are: 1. The side effects are non-negligible for some people, so they’ll feel awful whilst losing weight 2. Once they stop taking it then the hunger returns, so they have to take it forever (and then see point 1 above) Any thoughts on these?

Excellent human work Mike, you are a Damn blessing to youtube.🙌👊💪

I'm interested in this kind of content Dr Mike, please do more 😀

Yes, more philosophical commentary please. We have Philosophical Friday at work, where everyone has some comment or question for discussion like “Your stomach thinks that all potatoes are mashed.” Or “If cats had wings they’d probably still just fucking lay there.” Great fun and occasionally educational.

i love how you tink i want more of this kind of videos.

Love the thoughtful rants keep them coming

Excellent video very well thought out I appreciate that

Loved the approach you took on this Dr. Mike - good shit all the way around sir!!

Thank you so much. I found your speech realy encouraging.

Dr. Mike, you make me see hope in humanity. Thanks.

Dr. Mike, this needs to be a public video.

Your take on this subject is so good.

Absolutely want to hear you speak on more topics.

Thx Dr. Mike. This was the nudge I needed to agree with my docs about starting a glp-1 regimen.

I do like hearing your perspective. It is helpful especially regarding health either personal or societal. This opened up my thoughts to the possibilities and made me much more optimistic for the future of this drug. Thank you so much for all of your videos, app, books, and so on. Big fan.

OMG, best video ever!!! Thank you!

I like the rants, interesting perspectives

I Sped here when I saw Dr Mike has done an opinion piece on the new weightloss drugs. As a layperson in the fitness industry, but with a background in science, I find it particularly daunting just how little scientific material on weightloss and excercise is readily available to laypeople. Its either people who may have some training in fitness but not enough in my opinion for me to feel comfortable trusting their data or thesis, or just straight up misinformation. This was honestly the biggest struggle for me to first start loosing weight and exercising. I will admit, I have been on the fence with my opinion about weightloss drugs, not thar they are applicable to me, but I just hadnt gathered enough informed information to form an opinion yet. I really love these videos and generally hearing an actual proffessor discuss peer reviewed studies and research present his findings and am so glad I stumbled upon you. Please do more videos like this!

I Love your philosophical outbreaks, I Hope you will be doing more into in the future 👍

Love this Mike. I couldn't agree more. I was obese in my early 20s and cravings were the toughest to get over. Thankfully, the doctor recommended a hunger suppressant and dialled me in. Lost weight so fast, got me into the gym and everything. Once off, I did bounce back but not much, since I enjoyed the energy from low weight and just going to gym by then.

very cool setup and background

Dude, that was deep. I think you're spot on! And yes, more philosophical rants!

i’d love to hear more ranta dr. mike!

Awesome rant! Do more please!

This may be the best video you've ever made, and that is saying something.

Rant away Dr Mike! Your insight is much appreciated!!

I really have appreciated your channel and the info you share. I have to say that I have been dismissive of this new drug and the desire to “take the easy way out”, HOWEVER the way you shared your view point was very informative and it’s actually helped me to see a better way to look at this and it feels more compassionate. Thank you for your approach. Please keep sharing.

new series: Dr. Mike rants in the locker room 🧐❤‍🔥