.client-login-btn { background-color: #ffffff; /* white background */ color: #000000; /* black text */ padding: 8px 25px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; display: inline-block; border-radius: 8px; font-size: 14px; border: 2px solid #000000; /* black frame */ transition: background-color 0.3s, color 0.3s; } .client-login-btn:hover { background-color: #000000; /* black background on hover */ color: #ffffff; /* white text on hover */ } Practice Better Login
If you have looked into weight management medications, you have probably come across names such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro, Saxenda, and Contrave. You may also have heard people use the term “GLP 1” to describe almost all of these medications. That can make it difficult to understand what each medication actually does and which medications are approved for weight management in Canada.
The truth is that weight management medications do not all work in the same way. Some work with hormones involved in hunger, fullness, digestion, and blood sugar. Others affect brain pathways involved in appetite and food cravings. Another works mainly in the digestive tract by reducing the amount of dietary fat your body absorbs. There is also a medication specifically designed for people with certain rare genetic causes of obesity.
As of September 2026, Canadian obesity guidelines identify six medications for long term obesity management: liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide, naltrexone/bupropion, orlistat, and setmelanotide. The first three are the medications most closely associated with the GLP 1 conversation, while the others work through very different biological pathways.
First, What Happens in Your Body When You Eat?
Think about a typical dinner. You sit down hungry, take your first few bites, and at some point you notice that you are starting to feel satisfied. Maybe you slow down, take smaller bites, or realize you do not need to finish everything on your plate. A little later, you may feel comfortably full and stop thinking about food for a while.
None of this happens by accident. Your stomach, intestines, pancreas, brain, and several hormones are constantly sending messages back and forth to help your body respond to the food you just ate.
So what is actually happening behind the scenes?
You have probably experienced this without thinking about the biology behind it. Maybe you start dinner feeling very hungry and think you could easily eat two slices of pizza. After one slice, you are still hungry, but halfway through the second, you slow down and realize you have had enough. Your body is constantly collecting information from your stomach, intestines, bloodstream, and brain and using it to adjust hunger and fullness.
Where Do GLP 1 and GIP Fit In?
The reason these hormones became important in medicine is that they are already involved in some of the body’s most important responses to eating. GLP 1 helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar rises, reduces glucagon, slows stomach emptying, and contributes to fullness. GIP also helps stimulate insulin release and plays a role in how the body processes nutrients.
GLP 1 helps the pancreas release insulin when blood sugar rises, reduces glucagon, slows stomach emptying, and contributes to fullness.
GIP also helps stimulate insulin release and plays a role in how the body processes nutrients.
This led to different medications being developed for different situations. GLP 1 medications were first used mainly in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, where improving insulin response and blood sugar regulation is an important goal. Over time, it became clear that activating the GLP 1 pathway can also reduce appetite and food intake, which led to medications specifically approved for chronic weight management (means long term treatment of obesity or excess adiposity, rather than using a medication for a short period simply to lose a few pounds).
Tirzepatide takes this one step further by activating both GIP and GLP 1 receptors, which is why it is described as a dual GIP/GLP 1 medication. It was developed and studied for blood sugar management and later for chronic weight management.
So the goal is not simply to “boost GLP 1” or “speed up metabolism.” These medications are designed to change specific signals involved in blood sugar, appetite, digestion, and food intake. The reason someone may be prescribed one medication rather than another depends on factors such as their medical condition, treatment goals, other medications, side effects, contraindications, and the medication’s approved indications.
You may already recognize some of these medication names. In Canada, commonly discussed GLP 1 and GIP/GLP 1 medications include:
GLP 1 medications
Dual GIP/GLP 1 medication
One reason these names can be confusing is that the same active ingredient can be available under different brand names for different medical uses. For example, Ozempic and Wegovy both contain semaglutide, but they are different products with different approved indications. Similarly, Mounjaro and Zepbound both contain tirzepatide, but they are marketed for different approved uses. This is why the medication’s specific brand and indication matter when talking about its use.
GLP 1 Medications: Liraglutide and Semaglutide
GLP 1 medications work by activating the same receptor that responds to your body’s natural GLP 1 hormone. One of the most noticeable effects can be a change in appetite. Someone who normally feels hungry between meals may notice less hunger, while someone who usually eats a large portion may find that a smaller amount feels satisfying.
These medications also affect other processes involved in blood glucose regulation and digestion, so their effects are not simply about making someone “eat less” They are changing some of the biological signals that influence eating.
Liraglutide: Saxenda
Liraglutide, sold as Saxenda, is a GLP 1 receptor agonist that has been used in Canada for long term weight management for many years. It works by activating the GLP 1 receptor, which can increase feelings of fullness, reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying, and influence insulin and glucagon release. Unlike newer GLP 1 medications such as semaglutide and dual GIP/GLP 1 medications such as tirzepatide, Saxenda is taken once daily, with the dose gradually increased to 3 mg daily.
Saxenda may be less commonly chosen today because it requires a daily injection, while some newer options are taken once weekly. Cost can also be a barrier when the medication is not covered by insurance. Like other GLP 1 medications, it can cause digestive side effects, which some people find difficult to tolerate.
Saxenda is still an available medication in Canada, but the combination of daily injections, cost, and gastrointestinal side effects may make newer once weekly options more appealing to some patients. The choice of medication should be individualized based on medical history, other medications, treatment goals, side effects, cost and coverage, and how well the medication is tolerated.
Semaglutide: Wegovy, Sevmia, Ozempic and Rybelsus
Semaglutide is a GLP 1 medication available in Canada under several product names, including Wegovy, Sevmia, Ozempic, and Rybelsus. They all contain the same active medication, semaglutide. The main differences are how each product is taken and what it is approved to treat.
Important things to know about these semaglutide products include:
Semaglutide can be an effective option for some people, but the appropriate product depends on the person’s health history, treatment goals, other medications, tolerability, and whether weight management or diabetes treatment is the goal. Nutrition support can also help maintain adequate food and nutrient intake when appetite is reduced.
GIP + GLP 1: Where Tirzepatide Is Different
Tirzepatide is different from semaglutide and liraglutide because it is a dual GIP and GLP 1 medication. While semaglutide and liraglutide activate the GLP 1 pathway, tirzepatide activates both the GIP and GLP 1 pathways. Since these hormones are naturally released after eating, targeting both pathways can affect appetite, fullness, blood sugar regulation, and digestion.
Researchers developed tirzepatide to see whether targeting both GIP and GLP 1 could provide additional benefits compared with targeting GLP 1 alone. Research comparing tirzepatide and semaglutide has found differences between the two medications. For example, in a study of people with obesity who did not have diabetes, tirzepatide led to greater average weight and waist size reductions than semaglutide, and fewer people stopped tirzepatide because of digestive side effects.
At the same time, semaglutide has been studied for longer and has a large body of research looking at different health outcomes, including cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in specific groups of people. Tirzepatide is a newer medication, so there is still more to learn about its long term effects and how it compares with semaglutide for different health conditions.
This is one reason there is no single medication that is right for everyone. When choosing between medications, a healthcare professional may consider a person’s medical conditions, other medications, treatment goals, side effects, cost and coverage, and the health outcomes that are most relevant to them.
Tirzepatide: Zepbound and Mounjaro
Tirzepatide is available in Canada under the product names Zepbound and Mounjaro. Both contain the same active medication, tirzepatide. The main difference is what each product is approved to treat.
Important things to know about these tirzepatide products include:
Zepbound and Mounjaro contain the same active medication, tirzepatide, but they have different approved uses in Canada. Nutrition support can also help maintain adequate food and nutrient intake when appetite is reduced.
What About Contrave?
Contrave takes us completely outside the GLP 1 and GIP world. It contains two medications, naltrexone and bupropion, which work on brain pathways involved in appetite, cravings, and food reward. Unlike semaglutide or tirzepatide, Contrave does not act on GLP 1 or GIP receptors.
One way to think about it is that hunger and the desire to eat are not always the same thing. You might finish dinner and feel physically full, but still have a strong urge to eat something because it looks, smells, or tastes appealing. The naltrexone and bupropion combination affects brain signals involved in appetite and the rewarding aspects of eating.
Important things to know about Contrave include:
Contrave is therefore quite different from medications such as Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound. Rather than targeting gut hormones such as GLP 1 and GIP, it works through brain pathways involved in appetite and food reward. Whether it is appropriate depends on a person’s health history, medications, treatment goals, and how well they tolerate the medication.
Orlistat: A Medication That Works in the Digestive Tract
Orlistat works very differently from semaglutide, tirzepatide, and Contrave. Instead of affecting appetite hormones or brain pathways, it works mainly in the digestive tract by reducing how much dietary fat the body absorbs.
Important things to know about orlistat include:
Orlistat can be an option for some people, but its digestive effects and impact on vitamin absorption are important to consider. How well it fits depends on a person’s health history, medications, eating pattern, and ability to tolerate the side effects.
Setmelanotide: A Medication for Specific Genetic Conditions
Setmelanotide is different from the other medications discussed in this article because it is designed for a small group of people with specific genetic conditions that affect appetite regulation. It is not a general weight management medication for everyone living with obesity.
Setmelanotide works by activating the melanocortin 4 receptor, or MC4R, which is part of a biological pathway involved in hunger and energy regulation. In certain rare genetic conditions, changes in this pathway can lead to severe, persistent hunger and obesity. Setmelanotide is designed to target this specific pathway.
Important things to know about setmelanotide include:
Setmelanotide is a good example of why weight management medications are not one-size-fits-all. In this case, treatment is specifically linked to certain genetic conditions and the biological pathway affected by those conditions.
So, Do These Medications Actually “Boost Metabolism”?
This is where a lot of online conversations get confusing. You may hear that GLP 1 medications “speed up metabolism” or “make your body burn more fat.” But that makes their effects sound much simpler than they really are.
Think of it this way: these medications do not simply press a button that makes your metabolism run faster. They can change the signals your body uses to regulate hunger, fullness, digestion, and energy balance. This can affect how much you eat and how your body responds to food, but it does not mean your body is suddenly burning calories at a much higher rate. So, “metabolism booster” may be an easy phrase to use online, but it does not really explain what these medications are doing inside the body.
Why Do These Medications Cause So Many Digestive Side Effects?
The digestive side effects make more sense when you understand how these medications work. GLP 1 based medications slow the movement of food through the stomach, increase fullness, reduce appetite, and change signals involved in digestion. Those same effects that can help someone feel satisfied with less food can also cause nausea, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or vomiting, particularly when starting treatment or increasing the dose. Not everyone experiences these effects, and people who do experience them do not necessarily experience all of them or experience them to the same degree.
What someone experiences can also depend on the medication, dose, how quickly the dose is increased, their digestive system, other medications, and their overall health. This is why these medications are generally started at a lower dose and increased gradually rather than starting immediately at the full dose.
What Happens to Nutrition When Appetite Gets Smaller?
This is an important part of the conversation that can easily get lost when everyone is focused on the number on the scale. When a medication significantly reduces appetite, eating less may happen naturally.
The challenge is that your body’s need for nutrients does not decrease just because your appetite does. Protein is still needed to maintain muscle, calcium and vitamin D support bone health, iron is needed to make healthy red blood cells, and many vitamins and minerals support the brain, immune system, and other organs. If food intake stays low for a long time, it can become harder to get enough of these nutrients.
This is where nutrition strategies can help. Depending on the person, this may include:
It is also important to remember that nutrient deficiencies do not always announce themselves right away. Your body can use stored nutrients for a period of time, so you may feel perfectly fine even when your intake is gradually falling short. Some problems can develop quietly.
For example, inadequate protein intake over time can contribute to muscle loss, while inadequate calcium and vitamin D can affect bone health. Iron deficiency can eventually lead to fatigue and weakness, but symptoms may not appear at the beginning.
This is why the goal is not simply to eat as little as possible. The goal is to make sure that the food you are eating still provides the nutrition your body needs. A Registered Dietitian can help adjust meals and snacks to fit a smaller appetite while supporting adequate protein, fibre, fluids, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrition becomes especially important when appetite changes significantly, because feeling full does not necessarily mean your nutritional needs have been met.
What Are the Potential Long Term Risks?
Weight management medications can be helpful for some people, but long term treatment still needs regular medical follow-up. The potential risks vary depending on the medication, amount and rate of weight loss, food and fluid intake, existing medical conditions, and other medications.
Areas that may need monitoring include:
The important point is that long term monitoring should look beyond weight alone. Food and water intake, nutritional status, muscle and bone health, existing medical conditions, medications, and relevant bloodwork may all need to be considered.
What Happens If You Stop Taking the Medication?
Weight management medications may be used long term, but there is no set number of months or years that everyone needs to take them. If a medication is working well and is tolerated, some people may continue it for several years with regular medical follow-up.
While you are taking these medications, they can help reduce appetite, increase fullness, and affect how much you eat. When the medication is stopped, these effects gradually wear off. Appetite may increase again, and some people may regain some of the weight they lost. Research with medications such as semaglutide has shown that weight regain can occur after treatment is discontinued, although the amount varies from person to person.
This does not mean that everyone needs to take medication forever. People may stop because of side effects, pregnancy, changes in their health, cost, lack of coverage, or because they and their healthcare provider decide that stopping is appropriate.
If someone decides to stop medication, having a plan can be helpful. Continuing supportive habits around eating, physical activity, sleep, and overall health can help during the transition, whether someone continues medication, changes treatment, or stops medication.
Final Thoughts
GLP 1 and GIP/GLP 1 medications have changed the way we think about weight management, but they are not all the same, and there is no single medication that is right for everyone. Different medications work through different pathways, have different approved uses, and come with different considerations for side effects, long term use, cost, and medical history.
Weight management is also about more than the number on the scale. When these medications reduce appetite, it becomes important to make sure the body is still getting enough nutrition, fluids, protein, and other nutrients. The goal is not simply to eat less, but to support your health while working with the medication.
If you are considering a weight management medication or are already taking one, a personalized approach can help you understand how your medication fits with your health, eating pattern, and overall goals. A Registered Dietitian can also help you navigate nutrition changes that may come with reduced appetite and support adequate nutrition throughout treatment.
Nutrition Support While Taking Weight Management Medication
At Empowered Eating Nutrition & Wellness, nutrition support can be tailored to people taking GLP 1, GIP/GLP 1, or other weight management medications. Sessions may focus on building balanced meals around a smaller appetite, getting enough protein and fibre, managing digestive side effects, and meeting your nutritional needs as appetite changes.
Nutrition support can also be tailored to other health concerns, including diabetes, cholesterol, fatty liver disease, digestive concerns, menopause, and other nutrition goals. The focus is on practical, individualized strategies rather than rigid food rules or a one size fits all “medication diet” You can free 20 minute call with a registered dietitian through or checkout our weight loss program in our website to explore your needs and see how we can support you.
Disclaimer
This article is for general educational purposes only and does not replace personalized medical advice. Medication decisions should be made with your physician or prescribing healthcare professional based on your individual health history, medications, and needs. A Registered Dietitian can provide individualized nutrition support alongside your medical care.