This effect is linked to the natural changes to our hormone levels throughout the day, and eating early in the day supports the body’s circadian rhythm, researchers wrote in the 2023 paper.
It would make sense, therefore, that eating a diet rich in fibre, polyphenols and monounsaturated fat would ensure we’re producing lots of GLP-1. However, modern Western diets are currently lacking in the elements that produce the most GLP-1, says Damman.
“These weight loss drugs are tapping into something fundamental in our satiety mechanism that’s been short-circuited by modern ultra-processed foods,” he says.
Do drugs or diets work better?
While for some people, a balanced diet and active lifestyle are enough to lose weight, for others, the GLP-1 agonists are necessary, Damman argues.
“It comes down to behaviour change, which is incredibly difficult. That’s why lifestyle measures very often won’t work for people caught in metabolic ruts, and why these drugs have been incredibly helpful for people with morbid obesity with complications.”