By Marc Dellière, Medical Consultant & Trainer – Specialist in Stress, Prevention & Integrative Health
Reducing overweight to “overeating and not exercising” is an outdated view. We now know that GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) plays a central role in regulating metabolism and satiety.
GLP-1, a key messenger
Secreted by the gut after a meal, it:
✔️ stimulates insulin (glucose-dependent),
✔️ slows down glucagon,
✔️ slows down gastric emptying,
✔️ and signals satiety to the brain.
A true metabolic conductor.
Mechanisms at play
-Repeated microtrauma
-Overtraining without sufficient recovery
-Poor joint alignment or untreated traumatic sequelae
-Low-grade chronic inflammation and biomechanical imbalance
-Healthy cartilage can adapt to mechanical stress, provided it is gradual, intermittent, and well supervised.
When the system malfunctions
In many overweight or obese people, GLP-1 secretion is lower and receptor response is impaired. As a result, the satiety signal arrives too late, postprandial blood sugar is poorly controlled, and energy storage increases.
🩺 A meta-analysis of 47 trials (23,244 patients) showed that GLP-1 agonists lead to an average weight loss of –4.6 kg and a reduction in BMI of –2.1 kg/m², regardless of diabetic status (Wong et al., 2025).
New therapeutic perspectives
GLP-1 agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide) are revolutionizing the management of overweight and type 2 diabetes. They provide:
✔️ clinically significant weight loss,
✔️ better glycemic control,
✔️ and a reduction in cardiovascular and renal risk (Drucker, 2025).
But beware: after stopping treatment, weight regain is common, ranging from +2 to +9 kg depending on the molecule (Berg et al., 2025).
The importance of an integrated approach
These treatments must be accompanied by nutritional support (fiber, protein, microbiota), physical activity, and therapeutic education. As Mozaffarian (2025) points out, these measures enhance the effectiveness of GLP-1 while preserving muscle mass and limiting adverse effects.
👉 Being overweight is therefore not just a matter of willpower. It is a biological imbalance, in which GLP-1 is a major therapeutic key.
Learn more about Pep2Dia for glucose management!
Sources:
✍️ Drucker, D. J. (2025). GLP-1–based therapies for diabetes, obesity and beyond. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40281304/
✍️ Moore, P. W., Richardson, C., & Aronne, L. J. (2022). GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss: Pharmacology and clinical use. Medical Clinics of North America, 106(1), 145–161. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36566341/
✍️ Wong, H. J., Lin, S. Y., Chen, H. Y., et al. (2025). Efficacy of GLP-1 receptor agonists on weight loss, BMI, and waist circumference: A meta-analysis of 47 randomized controlled trials. Obesity Reviews, 26(5), e13723. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39841962/
✍️ Berg, S., Svendstrup, M., & Sonne, D. P. (2025). Discontinuing GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity: Weight regain and clinical considerations. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 27(3), 1016–1025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40186344/
✍️ Mozaffarian, D., Forouhi, N. G., & Astrup, A. (2025). Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 13(7), 452–463. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40445127/
✍️ Guo, H., Zhao, X., & Yang, W. (2025). Comparative efficacy and safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight reduction: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.