The hedonic system tracks reward and emotional state through dopamine circuits, and it is the system cortisol activates when chronic stress turns comfort food into relief
Going on the GLP-1s, I already knew what to expect regarding hair loss, saggy skin, dehydration and headaches, and nausea from when I had my gastric sleeve surgery, but drinking enough water and having more than 60 grams of protein a day is the key to keeping those side effects at bay
Key mechanisms include the relief of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis inhibition through weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity, alongside improved endometrial receptivity driven by increased SHBG and decreased free androgens (167, 168)
After two years off medication, the increased risk climbed to 22%
Its worth researching to see if you might be eligible for any such programs
If this sounds familiar, its often connected to deeper metabolic factors