The author’s ethos throughout her discussion of GLP-1 medications is that obesity is a chronic issue that doctors treated from the wrong perspective: “For too long, we approached chronic conditions such as obesity as ‘willpower problems’ or moral failings….We treated the symptoms but did nothing to treat the disease because we didn’t fully understand it as a medical condition.” Her reframing of readers’ viewpoints on obesity is crucial to his guide’s argument, as GLP-1s only work when patients commit to holistic treatment plans that include adequate protein intake and strength training. The author writes that one need not rely on fad diets that “fight your body into changing”; instead, she asserts that GLP-1s, when used for an extended period, “create the conditions that make change easier.” Considering the cultural primacy of Ozempic, a GLP-1 drug, readers will be interested in the long-term effects of continued use of such pharmaceuticals on the body. Salas-Whalen shares that minor side effects include nausea, constipation, and dehydration, but is upfront about the fact that one should not suffer to lose weight; if a side effect is bad enough, she says, injections should stop. Her tone is personal and warm throughout, even addressing the audience as “Dear reader,” and she has a patient-first approach, constantly reassuring and encouraging the reader. A large downside to GLP-1s, she says, is the cost, and Salas-Whalen doesn’t shy away from this; instead, her guide provides tips on navigating health insurance to find the best and most cost-effective treatment. The book also warmly offers anonymized anecdotes from Salas-Whalen’s patients and practice, as well as first-person stories from her own experience taking GLP-1s. Aptly placed graphs, tables, and timelines help to make this a useful guidebook for those curious about GLP-1 medications.
