GLP-1 medications have meaningfully changed what’s possible in medical weight management. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are the two most commonly used at Chambers Clinic, and while they’re related, they’re not identical.

What They Are

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone your body produces naturally after you eat. It tells your pancreas to release insulin, slows how quickly your stomach empties, and signals to your brain that you’ve had enough food. GLP-1 medications are designed to act like this natural hormone — but with a longer duration, so the signal lasts.

• Semaglutide works on the GLP-1 receptor.
• Tirzepatide works on the GLP-1 receptor and also on a related receptor called GIP, which appears to enhance its effects on weight and blood sugar.

How They Help

For appropriate candidates, GLP-1 medications tend to produce:

• Reduced appetite and food preoccupation
• Earlier feelings of fullness during meals
• Improved blood sugar control
• Meaningful, sustained weight loss when combined with nutrition and lifestyle support

Who They Help

These medications are most useful for patients who meet specific clinical criteria — generally tied to BMI, metabolic markers, or a related health condition — and who are ready to pair the medication with the lifestyle work that makes the results last. They are not intended for cosmetic weight loss or short-term use.

Who They’re Not For

• Patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN2 syndrome
• Patients with a history of pancreatitis
• People who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• Some patients with active gastrointestinal disease

Your clinician will review your history carefully before recommending either medication.

Side Effects to Expect

Most side effects are gastrointestinal and most often show up early in treatment or after a dose change:

• Nausea, especially in the first weeks
• Constipation or, less commonly, loose stools
• Reflux or a feeling of fullness
• Fatigue during dose adjustment

These are usually manageable with practical strategies — smaller meals, adequate protein and fluids, slower eating, and gradual dose adjustments. More serious side effects are uncommon but possible, and your clinician will walk through the warning signs to watch for.

What to Discuss With Your Clinician

Bring your full medication list, your personal and family health history, and your honest goals. GLP-1 therapy works best as one component of a broader plan, not a stand-alone solution.

Approved by the Chambers Clinic Team — last reviewed May 28, 2026.