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Episode 219: Microdosing GLP-1s: Does It Actually Work?

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

Release Date: 10/27/2025

Episode 248: Am I Going to Go Blind on a GLP-1? Understanding the NAION Headlines show art Episode 248: Am I Going to Go Blind on a GLP-1? Understanding the NAION Headlines

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

If you've seen headlines linking Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications to sudden eye strokes, I want to stop the panic right here.  In this episode, I break down what the research on NAION actually shows, who's really at risk, and why the scary relative-risk numbers you're seeing online don't tell the whole story. I walk you through what NAION is, why patients on semaglutide often already carry the underlying risk factors that get left out of the clickbait, and what the difference is between an observational study raising a signal and a randomized trial proving cause and effect. I also...

info_outline Episode 247: The Menopause Metabolism Shift: How Foundayo Changes the Game show art Episode 247: The Menopause Metabolism Shift: How Foundayo Changes the Game

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

I hear this from so many of my patients: "Dr. Shelly, I haven't changed anything—not my diet, not my exercise—but I'm gaining weight and my body just doesn't respond the way it used to." If you're a woman in your 40s or 50s, you're probably nodding right now. In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly why menopause causes weight gain, why it has nothing to do with willpower, and what breakthrough new research reveals about Foundayo—an oral GLP-1 medication—and how it helps restore the biological signals that become harder to access during this life stage.  I'm sharing real...

info_outline Episode 246: Do GLP-1 Medications Affect Your Bones? show art Episode 246: Do GLP-1 Medications Affect Your Bones?

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

A patient asked me this recently: "Dr. Shelley, I've heard that GLP-1 medications can cause muscle loss. Does that mean they can hurt my bones too?" It's an excellent question—and one we don't talk about nearly enough. In this episode, I'm walking you through what the research actually shows about GLP-1 medications and bone health, why weight loss itself poses a different risk to your skeleton, and the five non-negotiable steps you need to take to protect your bones while losing weight. This is the bone health conversation you need to hear before—or while—taking a GLP-1. Episode...

info_outline Episode 245: Retatrutide Delivers Bariatric-Level Weight Loss: Breaking Down the TRIUMPH-1 Trial from ADA 2026 show art Episode 245: Retatrutide Delivers Bariatric-Level Weight Loss: Breaking Down the TRIUMPH-1 Trial from ADA 2026

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

Can retatrutide finally be the breakthrough obesity treatment we've been waiting for? The answer is yes—and the data is stunning. In this episode I'm walking you through the biggest obesity medicine discovery from the ADA's 86th Scientific Session: retatrutide, a triple hormone receptor agonist showing weight loss results that rival bariatric surgery. You'll learn what makes retatrutide different from Wegovy and Zepbound, the stunning results from the Triumph 1 trial, what the side effects actually look like, and when this medication will finally be available. Weight loss medications are...

info_outline Episode 244: How to Restart a GLP-1s show art Episode 244: How to Restart a GLP-1s

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

Can I restart my GLP-1? The answer is yes — but it requires a strategic plan.  In this episode I'm walking you through exactly what happens to your body when you restart a GLP-1, why the timing of your break matters more than you think, how to restart safely without landing yourself in misery, the biggest mistakes I see patients make, and how to get back on track without shame or guilt. Restarting doesn't have to mean starting completely over. But how you restart matters. Listen now!   Episode Highlights: Why restarting at your previous dose will make you seriously sick What...

info_outline Episode 243: Why people stop taking GLP-1s show art Episode 243: Why people stop taking GLP-1s

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

You stopped your GLP-1 and now you're wondering can I just restart where I left off? Why am I so hungry again? Why are the side effects back? Did the medication stop working? These are questions I hear all the time in my practice. And the answer is not as simple as picking back up where you stopped. In this episode I am walking you through exactly what happens biologically when you stop a GLP-1, why restarting feels different than when you first started, how to restart safely, the common mistakes I see patients make, and how to get back on track mentally without shame. A pause does not erase...

info_outline Episode 242: Self-Pay, Savings Programs, and Smarter Strategies for GLP-1 Medications show art Episode 242: Self-Pay, Savings Programs, and Smarter Strategies for GLP-1 Medications

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

A patient finally decides to prioritize their health. They wait weeks for an appointment. We talk, we plan, and they leave with hope. Then the pharmacy calls with a price tag over $1,000 a month and that hope disappears. If that's happened to you, I made this episode for you. Because what most patients don't know is that there are real, legitimate ways to make this work and I'm breaking all of them down today. An insurance denial is not a verdict on your health or your worth. It just means we need to get strategic. Listen now!   Episode Highlights: Why I never let my patients stop at...

info_outline Episode 241: Which Weight Loss Medication Is Right for You? show art Episode 241: Which Weight Loss Medication Is Right for You?

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

People keep asking the same question: what’s actually the difference between all these weight loss medications?  Ozempic. Wegovy. Mounjaro. Zepbound. Foundayo. Wegovy pill. Some of these medications are injections, some are pills, some are FDA-approved for diabetes, others for weight loss, and some are actually the same medication with completely different brand names. So I'm breaking it all down for you today — in plain language — because the confusion alone is keeping people from getting the treatment they need. The real problem isn't just the brand names. It's that without...

info_outline Episode 240: What is the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration Program? show art Episode 240: What is the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration Program?

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

Medicare has spent years telling obesity patients: your medication isn't covered. Starting July 1, 2026, that may finally start to change. In this episode, I will break down the new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Demonstration Program — what it is, who qualifies, and which medications may be covered. This is not just a policy update. For thousands of patients who have paid hundreds of dollars out of pocket or given up on treatment altogether, this pilot program represents a real opening. The biggest barrier to obesity treatment has never been willpower. It's been access.  This episode is your...

info_outline Episode 239: Why did my GLP-1 get denied? show art Episode 239: Why did my GLP-1 get denied?

Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss

Your weight loss medication was denied. That moment of hope is gone. But this is not a ‘you’ problem. It's a system problem. In this episode, I break down why insurance denials for weight loss medications happen so frequently, and more importantly, what you can actually do about it. From formulary exclusions to step therapy requirements to the documentation timing that can reset your entire approval clock the barriers are real, but they are navigable. A denial does not mean you failed. It means you hit a wall in a system built with gaps. Understanding how that system works is the first...

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Seen TikTok videos about taking "just a little bit" of Ozempic or counting pen clicks instead of using the prescribed dose? That's microdosing, and it's showing up everywhere—from social media to patient discussions.

In this episode, I will cut through the hype to explain what microdosing GLP-1 medications really means, why people are trying it (spoiler: cost and side effects), and what the research actually says. I will discuss the concept of "super responders" who seem to do well on lower doses, the lack of scientific backing for DIY microdosing, and the real risks of using compounded or diluted versions of these medications.

Tune in to learn why working with your healthcare provider is essential for safe, effective dosing—and discover legitimate ways to manage side effects and costs without compromising your results.

 

Episode Highlights:

  • What microdosing GLP-1s actually means

  • The difference between super responders and unsafe microdosing

  • Why professional organizations don't endorse microdosing

  • Hidden risks of compounded and diluted medications

  • Safe alternatives for managing side effects and medication costs

 

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About Dr. Alicia Shelly

Dr. Alicia Shelly was raised in Atlanta, GA. She received her Doctorate of Medicine from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH.  Dr. Shelly has been practicing Primary Care and Obesity medicine since 2014.  In 2017, she became a Diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is the lead physician at the Wellstar Medical Center Douglasville. She started a weekly podcast & Youtube channel entitled Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight loss,  where she discusses how to get on track and stay on track with your weight loss journey. She has spoken for numerous local and national organizations, including the Obesity Medicine Association, and the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. She has been featured on CNN, Fox 5 News, Bruce St. James Radio show, Upscale magazine, and Shape.com. She was named an honoree of the 2021 Atlanta Business Chronicle's 40 under 40 award. She also is a collaborating author for the, “Made for More: Physician Entrepreneurs who Live Life and Practice Medicine on their own terms''.

 

Resources:

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