Findings from a recent study shed light on personal experiences with the popular weight loss drugs

• The side effects from popular weight loss medications can be tougher than expected. Findings from a recent study found that things like nausea, fatigue, and even mood swings caught many users off guard.

• Cost and support matter many survey respondents stopped the meds early because of price or not having enough guidance.

• Having a doctors care makes a big difference customized support helps manage side effects and keeps users on track.

Weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have gained popularity recently. While many studies have focused on the side effects, risks, and benefits of these drugs, its not as common to hear first-hand accounts from those who have taken them.

Now, Levity has released the findings from a recent study that specifically explored what GLP-1 users wish they knew before they started the drug. For the study, the research team surveyed 250 GLP-1 users to uncover their emotional, physical, and lifestyle challenges through firsthand accounts.

Zoe Lees, PhD, a medical writer at Levity, spoke with ConsumerAffairs about the ins and outs of the study findings, including everything consumers need to know about the popular weight loss drugs.

GLP-1s are not a quick fix, Dr. Lees said. They are powerful, medically established treatments that require careful planning and consideration.

How patients will feel during their treatment is overlooked too often. Mood swings, brain fog, and anxiety are real challenges for many patients that can undermine consistency. To improve outcomes, both the health care system and providers must take a more individualized approach.

What GLP-1 users wish they knew

Dr. Lees shared the top things GLP-1 users wish they knew before starting the weight loss drugs:

• The severity and prevalence of the side effects from the medication. Almost one in three underestimated how debilitating symptoms such as nausea, constipation, lethargy, and even psychiatric side effects such as confusion, mood swings, or anxiety could be, Dr. Lees told ConsumerAffairs. Younger patients, particularly Gen Z and millennials, were most likely to experience these symptoms and later regretted dismissing them.

• The cost. Cost is another major factor. One in two users stopped GLP-1 treatment within four months, with 31% citing affordability as the reason.

• The importance of a support system. Another important finding is the importance of support. Twenty-nine percent of users felt under-supported during their first month, which contributed to the high early discontinuation rate.

• Having prescriber-led care. Many users realized that customized, prescriber-led care is not only helpful but necessary. Eighty-one percent indicated that customized medical advice would have minimized side effects, improved safety, accelerated results, and helped them stay consistent with treatment.

Breaking down the side effects

While side effects from weight loss drugs may be inevitable, Dr. Lees says that there are ways to combat them.

Many of the typical side effects of GLP-1 medications (such as nausea, constipation, and brain fog) can often be managed with small, consistent habits, she said. To reduce nausea, try eating slowly, avoiding fatty or greasy foods, and starting the day with bland protein-rich options such as eggs or Greek yogurt. Gradually increase the amount of fiber you eat, drink plenty of water, and stay active to help prevent constipation. Even a short daily walk can do wonders.

For brain fog and mood swings, drinking water, starting the day with protein, and keeping a consistent sleep schedule can be very helpful. These simple adjustments can significantly improve comfort and overall treatment experience."

The importance of getting a prescription

Levitys survey found that one in seven GLP-1 users were using the drug without a prescription. Millennials were the biggest victims of this, with nearly 20% of the age group reporting taking GLP-1s without a prescription.

Without professional guidance, users risk improper dosing, missing important lab work, or stopping treatment early due to unmanaged side effects, Dr. Lees said.

More alarmingly, unsupervised use can have long-term consequences, particularly for those with existing conditions that require careful management. It also means missing out on the structured lifestyle support that can make all the difference for achieving the best treatment outcomes.

Finding success with GLP-1s

Despite the side effects, Dr. Lees says that success with GLP-1s is possible. To achieve success, she recommends structure, preparation, and support.

The best first step is working with a licensed professional who can provide individualized dosing and ongoing follow-up care, she said.

Early support is especially critical, as 29% of users indicated nutrition advice would have had the greatest impact early in their GLP-1 experience, and 24% reported the same about appetite control and eating aversions. Monitoring both physical and emotional symptoms allows for early intervention and tailored adjustments.

Staying consistent with GLP-1 medications requires more than motivation. It takes a responsive care model that incorporates education, accountability, and encouragement.

New research suggests that adding green tea and aquatic plants to a Mediterranean diet could help your brain stay younger longer

• In an 18-month randomized trial, people who followed a green-Mediterranean diet saw less of a protein signature associated with aging in the brain than those on a standard healthy diet.

• The green-Mediterranean diet in this study included green tea and the aquatic plant Mankai, in addition to typical Mediterranean diet components.

• The study tracked changes in blood proteins tied to brain aging, suggesting diet-linked biological changes may happen before cognitive symptoms appear.

As we get older, our brains dont always feel as sharp as they used to, and researchers are exploring ways diet might slow or even reverse aspects of that process.

A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Ben-Gurion University, and colleagues suggest that a version of the Mediterranean diet with extra green additions specifically green tea and Mankai (an aquatic plant) might help slow brain aging.

The study

The study is part of something called the DIRECT-PLUS trial. Roughly 300 participants were followed for 18 months and randomly assigned to one of three diet groups:

1. A standard healthy diet

2. A traditional calorie-restricted Mediterranean diet (lots of vegetables, less red meat, more fish and poultry, low in simple carbs)

3. The green-Mediterranean diet, which is like the Mediterranean diet but with added green tea and Mankai.
   

The researchers collected blood samples and measured levels of certain proteins that are believed to correlate with brain aging that is, how old your brain seems compared to your actual age.

Higher levels of some of these proteins are associated with accelerated brain aging. The idea was to see whether dietary changes could shift those protein levels.

What did they find?

Over the 18 months, people in the green-Mediterranean group showed reductions in certain proteins in their blood that are thought to reflect faster brain aging. In contrast, those reductions were not as pronounced in the other diet groups.

In short, adding green tea and Mankai appeared to help slow down markers of brain aging more than a standard healthy or even traditional Mediterranean diet.

The key point: these changes were biological they happened in protein markers in the blood before any obvious cognitive decline.This suggests that the green-Mediterranean diet could influence early, underlying processes of brain aging rather than just reacting to symptoms once they appear.

Studying the circulating proteins in blood allows us to observe, in a real-life setting, how the brains aging processes are influenced by lifestyle and dietary changes, researcher Anat Meir, said in a news release.

This approach gives us a dynamic window into brain health, helping to reveal biological changes long before symptoms may appear. By mapping these protein signatures, we gain powerful new insight into how interventions, such as diet, may help preserve cognitive function as we age.

How to try a green-Mediterranean approach

You dont need to overhaul your life overnight to start adopting elements of this eating pattern. Here are a few approachable ways to begin:

• Build a Mediterranean base. Focus on vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and lean proteins like fish or chicken. Use olive oil as your main fat.

• Go greener. Add a couple of cups of unsweetened green tea each day. Its calorie-free and rich in plant compounds studied for their antioxidant benefits.

• Experiment with greens like Mankai. While Mankai (also known as duckweed) isnt widely available everywhere, some markets and supplements carry it. If you cant find it, think about incorporating other nutrient-dense greens like spinach, kale, or watercress as a practical stand-in.

• Keep it sustainable. The study participants followed their diets for 18 months so small, steady changes are more realistic than quick fixes.

SUVs did better in the tests than minivans and pickups

• Updated crash tests show back seat passengers face higher risks than those up front

• Stricter standards cut the number of Top Safety Pick award winners to 48, down from 71 last year

• Only two large pickups the Rivian R1T and Toyota Tundra made the 2025 list

Back seat protection falls behind

Minivans and pickups are falling short when it comes to protecting rear seat passengers, according to new safety testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The groups 2025 Top Safety Pick awards reveal that belted adults riding in the back seat of newer vehicles face a higher risk of fatal injury compared with those in the front. The shortfall reflects how much faster automakers have improved front-seat safety features, leaving the back seat lagging behind.

IIHS now requires that second-row occupants have protection equal to whats offered in the front. As a result, only 48 vehicles earned safety awards this year down from 71 at this point in 2024.

SUVs dominate, minivans and pickups falter

Small and midsize SUVs claimed the majority of honors, with 12 vehicles earning the Top Safety Pick rating and the rest achieving the higher Top Safety Pick Plus.

But the picture was bleak for other categories. Not a single minivan, large car, small pickup, or minicar made the list. Only two large pickups the Rivian R1T and Toyota Tundra qualified under the tougher rules.

Detroit automakers struggled as well. Ford landed two models the Mustang Mach-E and Lincoln Nautilus in the Top Safety Pick Plus category, while Chevrolets Traverse managed a Top Safety Pick. Stellantis failed to place any vehicles.

IIHS President David Harkey said he was disappointed with the lack of strong performers from U.S. brands, particularly in family-oriented vehicles such as minivans.

Some of the automakers behind vehicles advertised as family-friendly need to step up and make improvements quickly, he said.

Harkey pointed to two key safety technologies that are now common in the front seat but rare in the back: pre-tensioner belts, which tighten before a collision to position passengers properly, and load limiters, which loosen slightly during impact to reduce chest injuries.

How the tests worked

IIHS researchers simulated head-on collisions at 40 mph with 40% overlap, measuring how well seat belts protected rear passengers. A new, smaller crash-test dummy representing either a petite woman or a 12-year-old child was placed behind the driver to highlight risks to smaller occupants.

The tests tracked chest injuries, abdominal trauma from submarining under the lap belt, and how far forward a passengers head traveled on impact.

It wasnt that the back seat has become less safe its just that weve continued to make all these advancements in the front seat, and weve left the back seat behind, Harkey said.

Bottom line for families

Despite the weaker scores, IIHS continues to recommend the back seat as the safest place for children under 13. Still, the findings highlight how far automakers must go to bring rear passenger protection in line with the front.

Cable customers stay even when unhappy

• Cable TV customers report lower satisfaction but are less likely to switch

• Streaming scores higher but suffers from higher churn

• Verizon Fios leads traditional TV; YouTube TV rules streaming

If youre frustrated with your cable bill or service, youre not alone. J.D. Powers latest U.S. Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study shows cable and satellite customers give their providers a mediocre 531 out of 1,000 on satisfaction. Live TV streamers? They clock in at 630.

But heres the twist: despite being less happy, cable customers tend to stay longer. Why? Contracts, limited provider options and bundled internet deals make it more of a headache to switch.

Why bundles matter

Cable TV providers have longer-standing customer relationships and more tenure than live TV streaming services, said Carl Lepper, senior director at J.D. Power. He points out that bundling internet and TV is still a major drawand often the reason people stick around even when the service disappoints.

Streaming services, meanwhile, deliver higher satisfaction but also face higher turnover. Subscribers are quicker to cancel or jump between platforms depending on price, content and promotions.

Who comes out on top

If youre weighing your options, heres how the top providers stack up:

• Cable/Satellite: Verizon Fios leads the pack with a 577 score, followed by Spectrum (536) and Xfinity (533).

• Streaming: YouTube TV dominates for the third straight year, scoring 649well above the streaming average of 630.

What it means for you

• If youre on cable: Bundling might save you money or hassle, but youll likely sacrifice satisfaction.

• If youre streaming: Youll probably be happier with the service but may find yourself switching more often.

• If youre undecided: Check whether your internet options allow for streaming. In areas with limited broadband, cable bundles may still make more sense.

The bottom line: cable is stickier, but streaming is happier. Your choice may come down to whether you value stabilityor flexibility.

What to know

• Cable customers arent happy: Average satisfaction score of 531 vs. 630 for streaming.

• Switching is a hassle: Contracts, limited provider choices, and bundled internet keep people locked in.

• Streaming wins on experience: Higher satisfaction but more customer churn.

• Top picks: Verizon Fios leads cable; YouTube TV tops streaming for the third straight year.

• Bottom line: Cable = stickier, streaming = happier.