Is GLP-1 TikTok helping or hurting patients?
Millions of people living with obesity turn to TikTok every day for information, support, motivation, and community. But as obesity management medications like Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Ozempic®, and Mounjaro® become increasingly common, social media has also become one of the most influential sources of obesity treatment information.
So who is shaping the conversation?
In this episode of Weight & Measure, hosts Mike Donnelly-Boylen and Zach Niemiec are joined by Dr. Danna Kashlan of Johns Hopkins Medicine and Dr. Lindsey Ogle for an important discussion inspired by Dr. Kashlan's research presented at the 2026 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.
Her research, "Who Shapes the GLP-1 Narrative on TikTok?", examined highly engaged GLP-1 content and found that patients, not healthcare professionals, are driving much of the conversation online.
Together, we explore the growing influence of social media on obesity care and ask an important question:
Is GLP-1 TikTok helping patients, hurting patients, or both?
• Why GLP-1 TikTok has become one of the largest online communities for people living with obesity
• The benefits of peer support, shared lived experience, and patient advocacy
• The risks of misinformation, comparison culture, unrealistic expectations, and viral health advice
• How healthcare professionals can better understand the online communities their patients participate in
• How patients can identify trustworthy obesity medicine information online
• Why lived experience and evidence based medicine should work together, not compete
• The future of obesity care in the age of social media
Whether you're taking Wegovy®, Zepbound®, Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, another obesity management medication, considering treatment, supporting someone living with obesity, creating health content online, or working in obesity medicine, this episode offers an honest and balanced conversation about one of the fastest growing influences on modern obesity care.
Weight & Measure with Mike and Zach is a live panel series bringing together leading obesity medicine physicians, researchers, advocates, and people with lived experience for thoughtful conversations that bridge science, clinical care, and the patient experience.
New episodes premiere live on On The Pen before being released on all major podcast platforms.
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/45vJYXZC0ciTNpfwoc9CVI?si=HicpBPlwQEWD9RhM3t8BjA
Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weight-measure/id1886848263
Amazon Music
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/183597e3-d4de-4d93-a7c0-55f0cc6018bd/weight-measure?ref=dm_sh_iwSFqgfpShmLX8vRQR2ZxyJ5y
Download the ProCare Health Non-Surgical Weight Loss & Obesity Management Guide to support patients using obesity management medications (OMMs):
https://procarenow.com/pages/non-surgical-weight-loss-obesity-management-program
